Magnetoencephalography (MEG) in musical hallucination
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) in musical hallucination
IRAS ID
126064
Contact name
Timothy D Griffiths
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Musical hallucination (MH) is a phenomenon whereby an individual is able to hear music when none is actually being played. The main aim of this study will be to investigate how these sensations are created by the brain. Recent work using magnetoencephalography (MEG) in a single patient has suggested that it might be caused by an abnormal interaction of a number of areas of the brain that are involved in the processing of sound. We intend to undertake a similar study in a group of patients to investigate these mechanisms in more detail, and whether any differences in mechanism relate to different patient experiences.
The study will involve patients undergoing magnetoencephalography (MEG) and rating their experience of MH as absent, low, medium or high. As MH is a variable phenomenon, and patients can often control or suppress their experiences, this will allow us to compare the signals recorded to the strength of MH to determine those responsible for the abnormal perception. Patients will also undergo a standard neurological examination, cognitive examination and tests of hearing. All of this will occur at the functional imaging laboratory, at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging in London.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NE/0155
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion