Explaining E/MEG Source Imaging and Beyond: An Updated Review.

Abstract

E/MEG source imaging (ESI) provides non-invasive measurements of brain activity with high spatial and temporal resolution. In particular, the wearability and portability of EEG make it an attractive area of research beyond the biomedical communities, especially given the broad application prospects including brain-computer interface (BCI), neuromarketing and neuroergonomics. Although existing reviews offer valuable insights, they often present ESI models in a relatively isolated manner and may not encompass the most recent advancements in the field. In this work, we aim to: 1) provide a timely in-depth review of the widely-explored and state-of-the-art ESI models, including their underlying neurophysiological assumptions and mathematical derivations; 2) list the primary applications of ESI and highlight crucial steps regarding its implementations; 3) discuss current challenges in ESI and propose future research prospects; 4) demonstrate practical usage and implementation details of various representative ESI models. As a rapidly expanding field, ESI is continuously developing and evolving to integrate new technologies. We believe the widespread applications of ESI is happening, and it will dramatically expand our understanding of brain dynamics.