4D brain activity scanner using Electrical Capacitance Volume Tomography (ECVT)

A real time, volumetric (4D) imaging for human brain activity based on Electrical Capacitance Volume Tomography (ECVT) has been proposed, for the first time, in this work. The ECVT has been used to measure electrical signals generated from human brain activity and reconstruct volumetric image of the brain signal in real time. The ECVT system comprises of a helmet shaped capacitive sensor, 32-channel data acquisition system and a computer system to control the measurement, process the image reconstruction and display the brain activities on the scalp and inside the brain. Tests with simulation as well as experimental data showed different images of charged as compared to non-charged phantoms. The charged phantoms used an electrical source of 100mV with 250Hz positive pulses to simulate the action potentials of the brain. The ECVT has also been applied to monitor activity of the brain during different stimulations. Electrical signals measured from capacitance electrodes clearly showed significant differences when the brain was in rest and in high tasks such as listening to music, moving hands and solving a mathematical problem. Preliminary results have shown that ECVT was able to detect brain activities related to human motoric and language functions.