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Physics World

Quantum sensing the brain

Hannah Coleman, Matt Brookes

Published May 1, 2021• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Novel technology in healthcare based on fundamental physics saves millions of lives every year but while these machines have revolutionized medicine, the next generation must meet even greater challenges. Hannah Coleman and Matt Brookes are hoping that the University of Nottingham’s new quantum-enabled MEG scanner will herald a new dawn in the study of human brain function

DOI
10.1088/2058-7058/34/02/27

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Novel technology in healthcare based on fundamental physics saves millions of lives every year but while these machines have revolutionized medicine, the next generation must meet even greater challenges. Hannah Coleman and Matt Brookes are hoping that the University of Nottingham’s new quantum-enabled MEG scanner will herald a new dawn in the study of human brain function
The neurosciences have pioneered the use of quantum technologies for sensing and imaging the brain.Next-generation technologies promise routes towards low-cost, wearable imaging devices with high spatial and temporal resolution.Much of the progress in our understanding of the brain and our ability to assess brain health relies heavily on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and quantum technologies that rely on quantum properties of matter or radiation such, e.g., nuclear spin, entanglement or detection of single quanta.These technologies are undergoing a renaissance in funding and research, which has led to some very exciting developments in recent years, for example, reconstructing images, videos [1,2], and the semantics of entire sentences [3] from brain activity and fMRI data alone.The goal of this perspective is to provide a brief overview of some quantum technologies that may have an impact, for example, on the wearability, precision, and cost of these brain reading approaches.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive approach that relies on a quantum effect whereby charged particles can have a spin and thus interact with an external magnetic field that provides information about the conformation of the spins and of the matter that we are probing.One form of MRI known as functional MRI (fMRI)-which measures brain activity by detecting small changes of blood flow in the brain-can now achieve sub-millimetre resolution, albeit typically with a 5 to 10 second time lag that results from the fact that it measures a blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal.Another noninvasive technology known as magnetoencelphagraphy (MEG) instead measures the magnetic fields generated as a result of the time-varying voltage signals at the cellular level.The quantum technology utilised here lies not in the physics of the signal itself but rather in the detection, which is typically achieved using the extreme sensitivity of superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs).MEG has lower spatial resolution compared to fMRI of order 3 mm but without the BOLD time-lag.It is clear that using fMRI and MEG to image the brain at ever-finer detail is enabling a deeper understanding of how the brain operates.However, fMRI has relatively high costs that severely limit accessibility and the range of experiments is constrained by the fact that lying down in an MRI scanner is not a "natural" environment in which animals or humans operate.MEG based on SQUIDs is moderately more wearable but still expensive, mostly as a result of the experiments needing to be housed in special rooms that shield the instruments from the
Neuronal electrical activity underlies human cognition including perception, attention, memory, language, and decision-making. Yet its direct, noninvasive measurement in the living human brain remains a fundamental challenge. Existing neuroimaging techniques, including electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), are limited by trade-offs in sensitivity and spatial or temporal resolution. Here we propose quantum sensing MRI (qsMRI), a noninvasive approach that enables direct detection of neuronal firing-induced magnetic fields using a clinical MRI system. qsMRI exploits endogenous proton (1H) nuclear spins in water molecules as intrinsic quantum sensors and decodes time-resolved phase information from the free induction decay signals to infer neuronal magnetic fields. We validate qsMRI through simulations, phantom experiments, and human studies at rest and during motor tasks, and provide open experimental procedures to facilitate independent rigorous validation. We further present a case study demonstrating potential applications to neurological disorders. qsMRI represents, to our knowledge, the first-in-human application of quantum sensing on a clinical MRI platform and may lay the foundation for a non-BOLD functional imaging modality capable of probing neuronal firing dynamics in both cortical and deep brain regions.
The convergence of quantum physics and medicine has the potential to transform healthcare in unprecedented ways. Quantum computers can process vast quantities of data with unmatched velocity, facilitating more precise diagnoses and customized treatment strategies aligned with each individual’s distinct genetic profile. Quantum sensors can identify diseases in their initial stages, facilitating preemptive measures prior to the manifestation of symptoms. Quantum encryption technology guarantees the utmost preservation of patient privacy and data security. Additionally, quantum concepts like superposition and entanglement may soon be utilized for innovative medicines that precisely target individual molecules, hence reducing side effects and enhancing efficacy. As researchers investigate the intersection of quantum mechanics and medicine, we anticipate a future in which healthcare is proactive, preventive, and genuinely individualized rather than merely reactive.