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SPECIALITY
Quantum brain sensors could
be crucial in spotting dementia
after scientists find they can
track brain waves
ew highly sensitive quantum “This could be really significant for from the outside, eliminating the
sensors for the brain may in doctors and patients concerned with health risks currently associated
Nthe future be able to identify the development of brain disorders.” for some patients with invasive
brain diseases such as dementia, scanners.
ALS and Parkinson’s, by spotting These quantum sensors are
a slowing in the speed at which believed to be much more accurate Currently MEG scanners are
signals travel across the brain. The than either EEG or fMRI scanners, expensive and bulky, making them
research findings from a paper led due in part to the fact that the challenging to use in clinical practice.
by University of Sussex quantum sensors can get closer to the skull. This development of quantum sensor
physicists are published in Scientific The closer proximity of the sensors technology could be crucial for
Reports journal. to the brain can not only improve transferring the scanners from highly
the spatial, but also the temporal controlled laboratory environments
The quantum scanners being resolution of the results. This double into real-world clinical settings.
developed by the scientists can improvement of both time and space
detect the magnetic fields generated accuracy is highly significant as it “It’s our hope with this development”
when neurons fire. Measuring means brain signals can be tracked adds Gialopsou. “That in discovering
moment-to-moment changes in the in ways that are inaccessible to this enhanced function of quantum
brain, they track the speed at which other types of sensors. brain scanners the door is opened
signals move across the brain. This to further developments that could
time-element is important because “It’s the quantum technology which bring about a quantum revolution
it means a patient could be scanned makes these sensors so accurate,” in neuroscience. This matters
twice several months apart to check explains Professor Peter Kruger, because, although the scanners are
whether the activity in their brain who leads the Quantum Systems in their infancy, it has implications
is slowing down. Such slowing can and Devices lab at the University of for future developments that could
be a sign of Alzheimer’s or other Sussex. He adds: lead to crucial early diagnosis of
diseases of the brain. brain diseases, such as ALS, MS
“The sensors contain a gas of and even Alzheimer’s. That’s what
In this way, the technology introduces rubidium atoms. Beams of laser motivates us as a team.”
a new method to spot bio-markers of light are shone at the atoms,
early health problems. and when the atoms experience Story Source:
changes in a magnetic field, they Materials provided by University of
Aikaterini Gialopsou, a doctoral emit light differently. Fluctuations in Sussex. Original written by Alice
researcher in the School of the emitted light reveal changes in Ingall. Note: Content may be edited
Mathematical and Physical Sciences the magnetic activity in the brain. for style and length.
at the University of Sussex and The quantum sensors are accurate
Brighton and Sussex Medical School within milliseconds, and within Journal Reference:
is the lead author on the paper. She several millimetres.” 1. Aikaterini Gialopsou, Christopher
says of the discovery: Abel, T. M. James, Thomas
The technology behind the scanners Coussens, Mark G. Bason, Reuben
“We’ve shown for the first time that is called magnetoencephalography Puddy, Francesco Di Lorenzo,
quantum sensors can produce highly (MEG). Combining MEG tech with Katharina Rolfs, Jens Voigt, Tilmann
accurate results in terms of both these new quantum sensors has Sander, Mara Cercignani, Peter
space and time. While other teams developed a non-invasive way to Krüger. Improved spatio-temporal
have shown the benefits in terms of probe activity in the brain. Unlike measurements of visually evoked
locating signals in the brain, this is existing brain scanners -- which send fields using optically-pumped
the first time that quantum sensors a signal into the brain and record magnetometers. Scientific Reports,
have proved to be so accurate in what come back -- MEG passively 2021; 11 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-
terms of the timing of signals too. measures what is occurring inside 021-01854-7
6 GREY MATTER NEWS
