Scripps MEG Lab

The magnetoencephalography (MEG) machine at Scripps Clinic and Scripps Green Hospital is one of four such machines in California. This powerful but non-invasive scan can measure brain activity in real time. It is used to evaluate and research neurological, psychological and developmental disorders.

Clinical applications

While MEG has multiple clinical applications, it is primarily used, in combination with electroencephalography (EEG), to evaluate patients with epilepsy. By pinpointing the source of the seizure in the brain, clinicians can determine if surgery is an appropriate treatment for those whose seizures cannot be controlled by drug therapy.

In patients who have brain tumors, venous malformations or other abnormalities requiring intracranial surgery, MEG provides valuable information for surgical pre-planning. The scan can identify functional areas of the brain—isolating the regions responsible for sensation, movement, vision and hearing. When MEG images are overlaid onto MRI images of the brain, the integrated data provides neurosurgeons with a neuro-navigational map that allows them to remove damaged tissue while preserving brain function.

Preparing for MEG

No special preparation is necessary for an MEG. The procedure is safe and does not subject the patient to a magnetic field or require an injection of radioisotopes. Patients will be asked to lie or sit in a specially built, magnetically shielded room and their head is positioned in the helmet-like MEG scanner. The total procedure takes approximately two to three hours, but the patient spends 30 to 60 minutes inside the scanner.

To schedule an appointment or get directions to the Scripps MEG Lab, visit the contact us page.