Currently the speed at which scientists can measure brain function in humans is limited to up to six seconds. However, in paper published today in Science Advances, an international team of researchers led by King’s, have discovered a new way to ‘see the brain thinking’ within a 100 milliseconds time scale. This signals a major development in the science of tracking brain activity as it could now allow scientists to visualise responses in the brain as they unfold.

The team successfully used a technology called magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) to track brain activity. Lead researcher, Professor Ralph Sinkus from the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences at King’s said: “While the brain is capable of processing signals at very high speeds, functional MRI technology can’t follow fast neuronal changes, so we can’t ‘see the brain think’.

“We’ve now discovered that MRE technology allows us to see brain activity on a much shorter time scale. This is a fascinating and unprecedented result as it shows that brain tissue changes in quasi real time. It will open a new gateway to understand how the brain is functioning.”

While the technique has currently been tested on mice, co-author Sam Patz, Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School said: “Translation of this technology to humans is straightforward and initial studies are currently underway.”

Initially interested in scanning the lungs using MRE, the team switched focus when brain scans showed parts of the brain reacting without reason. They then conducted studies on mice, and found that regions of the brain react under different types of stimulus timing using MRE. 

They are now looking to use MREs to observe brain activity, which they hope will help diagnose and understand neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, dementia, multiple sclerosis, or epilepsy.