Jennifer Swettenham

My role is to support and encourage neuroimaging studies at the Oxford centre for Human Brain Activity (OHBA).

Our main technique at OHBA is magnetoencephalography (MEG), a method for measuring the tiny magnetic fields produced naturally by brain activity. MEG is a relatively new technique and allows researchers to investigate both the timing and locations of brain activity. Many researchers have interests in brain function or behaviour, and are keen to use MEG, but lack experience.

I have been using MEG for several years, firstly as part of my PhD studies at Aston University, and secondly during a post-doctoral position at Cardiff University. Most of my research has investigated visual processing in the healthy brain. Together with other support staff at OHBA, I meet with researchers to discuss their aims and help them develop a study that will answer their questions.

Neuroimaging studies are increasingly being used by researchers as they allow us to study the living, working human brain, both in health and disease. Many researchers also run complementary studies with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) so that results from the different techniques can be compared. There is huge potential for future studies, with a vast array of behaviours, diseases, and drugs, which can all be explored non-invasively using MEG and similar techniques.