Latest news with #brainactivity
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Science
- BBC News
Brain science: Brains of devoted fans 'light up' during big sporting moments
Are you a big fan of watching sport? Maybe football is your passion, you're obsessed with athletics, or maybe watching gymnastics brings you joy?Well, a new study suggests the brain activity in die-hard fans of a sport is different from people who watch casually. It suggests their brains light up when watching sports they love in a way that doesn't happen for others. Read on to find out more. Researchers from the University of Waterloo, in Canada, focused on hockey for their study, which was published in Scientific aim was to find out whether intense fans of the sport responded differently during key moments of the game, and how this shows up in the brain. They tracked the brain activity of a group of 20 participants while they watched a professional ice hockey game. So what did the research team discover?During faceoffs, which is when two players on opposing teams go head to head, the researchers found the real hockey fans showed more activity in the part of their brain which deals with how we judge and interpret what's happening around us. "We found that for fans who really love the sport, these faceoffs were moments of intense mental engagement," said Dr Luke Potwarka who is a researcher and co-author on the new study. "It seems these plays signalled that something important was about to happen, something casual viewers may not notice in the same way."Interestingly, the researchers found no brain difference during more obvious events like opportunities teams had to score. They says it's probably because even casual fans recognize the importance of a goal. On the other hand, understanding some parts of a sport's strategy needs more knowledge, and triggers deeper engagement in the brain for real fans. The team which carried out the study say monitoring brain activity in this way could help them understand more about how fans are actually experiencing games as they happen in real time. "This is just the beginning," said Adrian Safati who contributed to the research. "Future studies could use this approach across different sports to learn more about what keeps fans truly hooked."
The Australian
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Australian
Compumedics achieves world-first brain imaging breakthrough
Compumedics Neuroscan Orion LifeSpan magnetoencephalography system records brain activity in children First time a single magnetoencephalography system has delivered high quality scans from both children and adults Breakthrough at world's most advanced MEG lab at Tianjin Normal University in China Special Report: Compumedics has achieved a world-first breakthrough with its trademarked Neuroscan Orion LifeSpan magnetoencephalography (MEG) system – years in the making and with potential to transform surgery for brain function disorders, particularly epilepsy. Compumedics (ASX:CMP), in collaboration with Beijing Fistar – the company's long-term Chinese distributor for its brain research technology – and Tianjin Normal University (TJNU), has recorded brain activity in children using its Orion LifeSpan MEG system. Founder and executive chairman Dr David Burton said it marked the first time a single MEG system had delivered high-quality scans for both children and adults. Burton said the breakthrough was at the world's most advanced MEG lab at TJNU, which is equipped with a Compumedics Orion LifeSpan MEG system. 'Compumedics has invested nearly a decade and many millions of dollars to develop the Neuroscan Orion LifeSpan MEG,' he said. 'The system represents a major leap in magnetoencephalography, with dual-helmet capability for paediatric and adult brain scanning, fully integrated with our gold-standard brain analytics CURRY software. 'It's incredibly rewarding to see these efforts translating into strong initial sales, global interest and the potential for improved brain health, among both children and adults worldwide.' Furthering its gold standard for brain analytics MEG is a functional neuroimaging technique for mapping brain activity with highly sensitive detectors to record the naturally occurring magnetic fields produced by electrical current flows within the brain. Compumedics has established a gold standard with its trademarked CURRY software, which Burton said had been used for decades at many MEG labs worldwide. The CURRY software has a complete set of tools for efficient electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography(MEG) and event-related potential(ERP) recording, review and multi-modal integration. 'Compumedics now has the CURRY analytics software and MEG hardware fully integrated for seamless operations for the first time,' Burton said. He said at the heart of Neuroscan Orion LifeSpan were patented and exclusive double relaxation oscillation superconducting quantum interference devices (DROS SQUIDs), offering unparalleled accuracy compared to conventional MEG sensors. A special vacuum cooling system boosts sensitivity, while a virtually 100% helium recycling system means it can run continuously without needing refills, enabling 24/7 operation. Ability to accurately scan both children and adults But among the key functions of the Neuroscan Orion LifeSpan MEG device is its unique dual-helmet design that allows accurate brain measurements for both adults and children – even at the same time (known as hyperscanning). Compumedics' head of Orion global business Gordon Haid said a key principle of MEG was that because magnetic fields drop off very rapidly with distance, the sensors should be as close as possible to the sources of the brain signals. 'Since the sensors must be within a rigid helmet shape, a child's small head in an adult size helmet results in sensors far from the brain,' he said. 'This leads to small signals and a poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).' Haid said a dedicated smaller helmet yields clearer and more accurate data for better research understanding and improved patient outcomes. Child in an adult sized MEG helmet (left) and in a helmet optimised for paediatric measurements (right). Pic: Compumedics Achieving where others fall short Haid said because many research and clinical MEG measurements must be done with children, most importantly for paediatric epilepsy diagnostics, several manufacturers have in the past produced systems with a paediatric optimised helmet. 'However, doubling the cost and space requirements to have a second system installed has made these types of systems a rarity,' he said. For this reason, Compumedics, along with its technology partners at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), developed the unique Orion LifeSpan MEG with dual-sensing helmets. 'The system can be installed so that it rotates and fits within a standard-sized magnetically shielded room,' Haid said. Orion LifeSpan MEG in adult measurement position (left), being rotated (centre) and in paediatric measurement position (right). Pic: Compumedics 'Most advanced MEG capability anywhere in the world' Professor Xuejun Bai is vice-president of TJNU, Head of the MEG Laboratory, Director of the Brain Functional Imaging Centre, and former Director of the Chinese Psychological Society. 'The Orion LifeSpan MEG recently installed by Compumedics at TJNU has been a revolution in our ability to study mental processes of both children and adults, or even the two simultaneously,' Bai said. 'The system has already proven itself to be extremely sensitive, accurate and reliable. 'My team have been hard at work doing MEG measurements, analysing the resulting data and uncovering new neuroscientific findings. 'I can say without reservation that the Orion LifeSpan has given TJNU the most advanced MEG capability anywhere in the world.' Ability to transform surgery Burton said the additional MEG brain function information, combined with traditional anatomical scanning such as MRI, provides an enhanced degree of accuracy and precision for critical brain surgeries, such as those related to epilepsy. 'By way of referencing the MEG brain function information, surgeons can help prevent damaging healthy brain material during complex surgical procedures,' Burton added. 'For example, the MEG brain function scans can help to identify critical brain control, sensory processing and other brain functional regions which are so important to avoid during delicate surgical intervention. 'This is particularly important in paediatric patients undergoing surgery, where identifying the small extent of the epileptogenic areas related to seizures can be critical to the child's outcome.' Brain activity (yellow/orange) from MEG sensors (circles) overlaid on MRI (grey). Data from Orion LifeSpan, processed with CURRY. Pic: Compumedics Attracting strong commercial interest Burton said Compumedics was firmly establishing itself as the dominant supplier of MEG technology in the Chinese neurosciences market. The company has sold MEG systems to four prestigious universities in China in the first 18 months of its commercialisation to the value of ~$20 million. The company recently announced it had received a new order from Hangzhou Normal University (HZNU) in China. This follows a successful installation at TJNU and further orders from Tsinghua and Tianjin Universities. 'The take-up has proven quite extraordinary, especially given the strong barriers to entry,' Burton said. Compumedics plans to expand into the North American market in 2025 and already has US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certification. Known for its tech Compumedics is well known for firsts in its technology and is highly regarded globally for its sleep-monitoring technology. The company designed and installed the first Australian, fully computerised sleep clinic at the Epworth Hospital in Melbourne in 1987, the year it was founded. Following early success, Compumedics went on to focus on development of products that sold into the burgeoning international sleep clinic and home monitoring of sleep markets. Compumedics listed on the ASX in 2000 and has clients for its sleep-monitoring products in prestigious sleep centres globally. It has counted NASA as a customer, winning two contracts for its first ambulatory sleep monitors for the organisation's space shuttle and space station programs. The company also won a contract to equip the largest sleep study of its kind with about 14,000 patients. 'Whilst the company has celebrated many great achievements in the past, the brain is an incredibly complex organ, and this project has certainly been one of our most challenging,' Burton said. 'We're exceptionally proud of our achievements with the CURRY software and Neuroscan Orion LifeSpan MEG technology and what it represents as a major leap forward in understanding and treating the human brain.' This article was developed in collaboration with Compumedics, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions. Sponsored Indiana Resources' drill program will target extensions of the high-grade Minos gold deposit at its Gawler Craton project. Sponsored Lumos Diagnostics has secured its largest purchase order for FebriDx respiratory tests to date with US$126k iMedical deal.
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Health Check: Compumedics claims world first ‘kids eat for free' brain scanning breakthrough
Compumedics' MEG unit can scan adult and kid's heads at the same time – a technically tricky task Microba's comprehensive gut testing reveals all is not well in the tummy region Trump's drug pricing blitz should be 'immaterial', says Telix Brain-scanning specialist Compumedics (ASX:CMP) reports a world's first: decent concurrent readings from both adult and children patients imaged by the same MEG device at China's Tianjin Normal University. It's like the old Smorgy's: kids eat for free. MEG stands for magnetoencephalography, a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that maps brain activity by recording magnetic fields produced by electrical currents in the grey matter. The problem to date is that the head scanners on MEGs haven't been compatible with young and adult noggins, which require two separate units. Many MEG measurements are done on kids, especially for epilepsy diagnostics. Compumedics' Orion Lifespan MEGs rectify this this with a two-scanner configuration (the scanner look like old-fashioned hair dryers at a salon). 'A key principle of MEG is that because magnetic fields drop off very rapidly with distance, the sensors should be as close as possible to the sources of the brain signals,' the company says. 'Since the sensors must be within a rigid helmet shape, a child's small head in an adult size helmet results in sensors far from the brain.' Orion Lifespan MEGs also enable better cooling – resulting in more sensitive measurements – and full recycling of the expensive coolant, liquid helium. This enables around-the-clock use of the units. Tianjin Normal University was the first of four Chinese institutions to buy an Orion MEG. In March this year Compumedics sold its fourth unit, to Hangzhou Normal University in a $5.7 million deal. The orders to date account for about $20 million of revenue. Compumedics founder and executive chair Dr David Burton says the company has spent 'many millions' over the last decade to perfect the units. Currently, about 200 MEGs are used globally. Burton reckons eventually there should be just as many MEGs as magnetic resonance imaging units – and there are 34,000 of the latter in use. Microba says we've all had a gutful An expansive study carried out by microbiome specialist Microba Life Sciences (ASX:MAP) suggests our tummies are not in the best of shape, but the ailments can be rectified with better clinical management. The company analysed 4600 patient results from its Metaxplore tests, which scan for 28,000 microbial species in the lower intestine. Some of these bugs are friendly and some of them are pathogenic. In more than 70% of cases, the preliminary results showed abnormalities in gut bacteria, signs of infection or inflammation markers "that could inform targeted treatment strategies". More than 42% of the tests showed microbiome markers linked to gastrointestinal health, while close to 10% exhibited symptoms such as inflammation, pancreatic insufficiency and blood in stools. Microba's selling point is that 65% of patients reported an improvement after following 'clinically directed recommendations informed by Metaxplore". The test can help clinicians to apply "personalised, multi-dimensional treatment plans to support the clinical management of patients with chronic and functional lower gastrointestinal disorders'. Even the tests identifying no problems can be helpful in terms of ruling out causes. In some cases, they may point to 'psychological or neurological contributors' to symptoms. In its March quarter update, Microba reported revenue of $3.4 million, down 14% . But management guided to full-year turnover of $15.25-16.25 million, 26-34% higher. Microba doubled sales of Metaxplore tests during the stanza, to 3225, taking the annualised run rate to 12,900 units. Locally the assays sell for $369 a pop. Telix shrugs off Trump drug pricing threat Telix Pharmaceuticals (ASX:TLX) has declared the Trump administration's proposed move to lower prescription drug prices has a 'a low likelihood of material impact' on the nuclear medicine group's business. The key reason is the unique nature of radiopharmaceuticals, which rely on a complex supply chain and 'just-in-time' manufacturing. In other words: the isotopes used on US patients need to be made in the US because of short half lives. The ready-to-inject radioactive doses are delivered through local nuclear pharmacy distributors. Under its most favoured nation decree, The Trump administration plans to benchmark local drug prices against those charged in the cheapest of the industrialised nations. The Prez claims this will reduce drug prices by up to 80% and save Medicare a poultice of money. But Telix says its localised production makes international pricing comparisons "challenging to benchmark". Telix derives most of its revenue in the US, from its approved prostate cancer imaging agent Illucix. The company intends to go ahead with commercialising kidney and brain cancer imaging products – Zircaix and Pixclara respectively – and advance cancer therapy agents. The company promises 'pharmaco-economically defensible' pricing in the US. Telix's comments were by way of a news item on its website, rather than an ASX announcement. OIL say! – that's a decent share rise Today's biotech winner is Optiscan (ASX:OIL), with its shares bounding three cents – 30% – in initial trade. Optiscan had nothing fresh to report, but yesterday said a robotic surgery development effort with Mayo Clinic was going well. Specifically, the venture is about incorporating Optiscan's digital confocal laser endomicroscopic (CLE) imaging in the robotic system. The robots do the fiddly work, while the surgeons guide via joystick (not even necessarily in the same room). The robots have a steadier hand – and often a better bedside manner. Rather than wait for biopsies, the CLE enables a real-time assessment in terms of cancer cell types and the extent of the margins at the edge of the tumour. 'This capability is expected to streamline surgical workflows, enhance decision-making, and reduce the likelihood of follow-up surgeries,' the company says. Optiscan CEO Dr Camile Farah says the venture – initially aimed at breast surgery – has 'materially progressed'.
