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Optically pumped magnetometers can measure brain responses to sensory information already In the fetus

par Capparini, Chiara ;Corvilain, Pierre;Wens, Vincent ;Langford, Zachary ;Ferez, Maxime ;De Tiege, Xavier ;Bertels, Julie
Référence Fetal, Infant, & Toddler Neuroimaging group (FIT'NG) 2025 (07-08 September 2025: Dublin, Ireland)
Publication Non publié, 2025-09-07

Communication à un colloque

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Résumé :

The human fetus, particularly in the last trimester of gestation, already exhibits the remarkable capacity to detect and process external sensory information. Investigating the neural basis of this fetal perceptual ability has traditionally relied on cryogenic magnetoencephalography (MEG), a technique suited to non-invasively measure fetal brain activity through the maternal womb. However, the widespread adoption of fetal MEG has been hindered by the high cost, logistical complexity, and scarcity of cryogenic systems suited to pregnant participants, which remain confined to a couple of specialized research laboratories worldwide.In the present work, we introduced a novel, cryogenic-free MEG system based on optically pumped magnetometers (OPM-MEG). The OPM sensors are lightweight and wearable, making them an ideal candidate for a flexible and scalable MEG application with fetal and infant populations. The aim of the present work was to demonstrate the possibility to record brain activity in response to sensory stimulation already in utero adopting a wearable OPM-MEG solution. To do so, OPM sensors were organized into an adaptable abdominal belt. Of note, sensor placement was tailored to the fetal head position. We recorded fetal brain activity in response to auditory stimuli (500 Hz tones) in a group of 20 pregnant participants in their late third trimester (35-40 weeks of gestation). The same auditory paradigm was also conducted with on-scalp OPM-MEG with a subgroup of participants who came back with their 1-month-old newborn. Our results demonstrated that OPM-MEG can successfully detect fetal auditory evoked responses, with group-level signals peaking around 300 ms post-stimulus onset. In newborns, responses to auditory stimuli appeared with shorter latencies in magnetometer data compared to the fetal group, indicating rapid postnatal maturation of auditory processing. In a second experiment, we are also recording fetal brain activity in response to visual stimulation (flashes of red light) in a group of pregnant women in their third trimester (32-36 weeks of gestation). Visual stimuli are presented in two locations over the maternal abdomen, according to the fetal head position and orientation. Data collection for this latter fetal paradigm is currently ongoing, and results will be presented at the meeting. The findings from the fetal and newborn OPM-MEG acquisitions establish the feasibility of this novel MEG approach to record brain responses to sensory stimuli already before birth. By enabling non-invasive and scalable studies across the prenatal and perinatal period, OPM-MEG holds a promise as a lifespan-compliant neuroimaging tool for tracking neural development from the womb onwards.