The IAS-MEEG Package: A Flexible Inverse Source Reconstruction Platform for Reconstruction and Visualization of Brain Activity from M/EEG Data

Brain Topogr. 2023 Jan;36(1):10-22. doi: 10.1007/s10548-022-00926-9. Epub 2022 Dec 2.

Abstract

We present a standalone Matlab software platform complete with visualization for the reconstruction of the neural activity in the brain from MEG or EEG data. The underlying inversion combines hierarchical Bayesian models and Krylov subspace iterative least squares solvers. The Bayesian framework of the underlying inversion algorithm allows to account for anatomical information and possible a priori belief about the focality of the reconstruction. The computational efficiency makes the software suitable for the reconstruction of lengthy time series on standard computing equipment. The algorithm requires minimal user provided input parameters, although the user can express the desired focality and accuracy of the solution. The code has been designed so as to favor the parallelization performed automatically by Matlab, according to the resources of the host computer. We demonstrate the flexibility of the platform by reconstructing activity patterns with supports of different sizes from MEG and EEG data. Moreover, we show that the software reconstructs well activity patches located either in the subcortical brain structures or on the cortex. The inverse solver and visualization modules can be used either individually or in combination. We also provide a version of the inverse solver that can be used within Brainstorm toolbox. All the software is available online by Github, including the Brainstorm plugin, with accompanying documentation and test data.

Keywords: Bayesian framework; Brain activity reconstruction; Conditionally Gaussian prior; Iterative Krylov solver; Sensitivity weighting; Sliced visualization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Bayes Theorem
  • Brain* / diagnostic imaging
  • Electroencephalography
  • Humans
  • Magnetoencephalography*
  • Software