Feindel Brain and Mind Seminar Series: Steps Towards Laminar Resolution in Non-invasive Human Electrophysiology
The Feindel Brain and Mind Seminar Series will advance the vision of Dr. William Feindel (1918–2014), Former Director of the Neuro (1972–1984), to constantly bridge the clinical and research realms. The talks will highlight the latest advances and discoveries in neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience, and neuroimaging.
Speakers will include scientists from across The Neuro, as well as colleagues and collaborators locally and from around the world. The series is intended to provide a virtual forum for scientists and trainees to continue to foster interdisciplinary exchanges on the mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment of brain and cognitive disorders.
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Saskia Helbling
Research Associate, Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience, Germany
Research Associate, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Germany
Host: christine.tardif [at] mcgill.ca (Christine Tardif)
Abstract: Advances in neuroimaging and electrophysiology have enabled non-invasive investigation of human brain function at increasingly fine spatial scales. I present three interconnected research projects towards achieving laminar resolution in non-invasive human electrophysiology. First, I demonstrate how myelin-informed forward models derived from high-resolution quantitative MRI enhance MEG/EEG source reconstruction. Second, building on this structural-functional relationship, I examine the microstructural foundations of cortical speech tracking. By leveraging high-resolution cortical myelination maps, this approach offers insights into the potential laminar origins of low-frequency auditory activity and top-down modulatory signals during speech perception. Finally, I present a simulation study that investigates the potential of optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) for inferring laminar origins of MEG signals, demonstrating the benefits of on-scalp sensors for laminar inference. These complementary approaches aim to push the boundaries of spatial resolution in non-invasive electrophysiology, offering new perspectives on cortical layer-specific activity and structure-function relationships in the human brain.
