<p>According to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetoencephalography" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia</a>, neurons give a response that generates a readable MEG signal when they are firing in a relatively synchronized manner and their current carrying dendrites/axons are all aligned. This occurs most often in pyramidal neurons, due to their perpendicular alignment with the scalp. Consequently, this seems to imply MEG can be imagined as the sum of all pyramidal neuron activity.</p>

<p>However, consider the case where a group of pyramidal neurons are projecting in different directions. The magnetic fields would then cancel each-other out. Would MEG then be considered to take the maximum of the neural responses? I've added top-view illustrations below to help describe the different cases.</p>

<p>"Sum" case where neuron are all projecting in same direction during task:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/elfjj.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/elfjj.png" alt="sum_case"></a></p>

<p>"Max" case where neurons are projecting in many different directions during task:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Kapqk.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Kapqk.png" alt="max_case"></a></p>

<p>Are there studies that support either case/interpretation?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-07T02:26:08.500Z
I'm not terribly familiar with MEG, but what you're describing here, mathematically, is [the surface integral of a vector field](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_integral#Surface_integrals_of_vector_fields). So it's not max for the second case, for sure.
got trolled too much this week
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-07T02:32:37.543Z
... and this is because of the [divergence theorem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divergence_theorem#Example).
got trolled too much this week
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-07T02:48:43.977Z
Also, the [SQUID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQUID) elements used in MEG can't measure the absolute flux (magnetic field) but only its relative change, i.e. variation in time... something that Wikipedia fails to explain properly, but see http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/43/1/299
got trolled too much this week
<neuroimaging><meg>
Does MEG measure the sum of neural activity or the maximum?
Seanny123
# Does MEG measure the sum of neural activity or the maximum?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-12-06)

According to [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetoencephalography), neurons give a response that generates a readable MEG signal when they are firing in a relatively synchronized manner and their current carrying dendrites/axons are all aligned. This occurs most often in pyramidal neurons, due to their perpendicular alignment with the scalp. Consequently, this seems to imply MEG can be imagined as the sum of all pyramidal neuron activity.

However, consider the case where a group of pyramidal neurons are projecting in different directions. The magnetic fields would then cancel each-other out. Would MEG then be considered to take the maximum of the neural responses? I've added top-view illustrations below to help describe the different cases.

"Sum" case where neuron are all projecting in same direction during task:

[![sum_case](https://i.sstatic.net/elfjj.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/elfjj.png)

"Max" case where neurons are projecting in many different directions during task:

[![max_case](https://i.sstatic.net/Kapqk.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Kapqk.png)

Are there studies that support either case/interpretation?

**Tags:** neuroimaging, meg

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm not terribly familiar with MEG, but what you're describing here, mathematically, is [the surface integral of a vector field](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_integral#Surface_integrals_of_vector_fields). So it's not max for the second case, for sure.  
> **username_1**: ... and this is because of the [divergence theorem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divergence_theorem#Example).  
> **username_1**: Also, the [SQUID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQUID) elements used in MEG can't measure the absolute flux (magnetic field) but only its relative change, i.e. variation in time... something that Wikipedia fails to explain properly, but see http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/43/1/299  

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## 0 answers

