Most neuroimaging studies contain data from tens of participants, which substantially limits the generalizability and reproducibility of the associated findings. Recent trends towards large open-access datasets have provided opportunity to address this weakness. In particular, the CamCAN dataset contains MEG, structural MRI, fMRI and demographic/cognitive data from roughly 600 participants. With an equal distribution of ages from 18-88, this dataset is ideal for cross-sectional investigation of age-related trends.

We have published a series of papers revealing age-related trends in the CamCAN dataset. The dataset includes functional imaging (MEG/fMRI) during a simple cued button press task and during wakeful resting. In particular, we have been looking at the transient signals associated with rhythmic bursts in the sensorimotor cortices. The focus has been on beta band (~20 Hz) transients, although some other signals have been investigated too.

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Ron Bishop was my first graduate student. He came to Dalhousie from Paradise, Newfoundland to complete a research project in Rehabilitation Research. His project investigated how brain areas communicate during the performance of precision hand movements. After graduation, Ron worked at the hospital as an Imaging Technician for a number of years. Following that experience, he became a Data Analyst for the Department of Health and Wellness, and now manages a Data Analytics team.

“Getting my masters at Dal was an incredible experience. I learned a lot about neuroimaging and gained so many skills related to research and writing from my supervisors. My time at Dal led directly to an opportunity to work in the field as a technologist, where I collaborated with scientists and met some amazing people.” ― Ron Bishop

For many people, it is hard to imagine where the path of scientific research will lead them. The road straight ahead leads from an undergraduate degree, to a Masters, PhD, post-doctoral fellowship, and finally to a faculty position at a university. Not everyone will make this destination (the tolls are quite high!). But there are many exits from the highway along the way, and those exits can lead to some exciting adventures!

With this in mind, I wanted to share some examples of the paths that some of my previous students have found.

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You know it’s serious when you stay the night for the first time. Sometimes it’s that special someone. Sometimes it’s a friend whose couch is always open to you. Sometimes it’s a space where you can blast Pink Floyd from a tinny speaker at 3 am, and no one cares that you’re tracing out the retinogeniculate pathway in radioactive tints, that you’re alternately belting out the approximate lyrics to “Time” and muttering to yourself about tetrodotoxin and retinal waves.

But: I had a paper to finish, I had keys and after-hours access. I had approximately 12 hours until the deadline. I had permission.

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We had success today recording brain activity with our open-source wireless EEG (electroencephalography) system! This is a big development step towards running studies with wireless EEG in the near future.

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