Method and system for use in monitoring neural activity in a subject's brain

A method for validating a brain activation signature, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a first set of fMRI spatial scan data corresponding to and showing activation of at least one brain region during an indicated time period and a second set of EEG temporal data measured by electrodes of an EEG measurement unit during said indicated time period;
• (b) analyzing said second set of EEG temporal data by selecting a specific set of electrodes and measurement time points in said time period and by identifying relevant frequency bands used in the measurement of said temporal data;
• (c) identifying a correlation between the results of said analyzing and said activation of at least one brain region as measured in said fMRI scan data, to generate a first EEG brain activation signature including an indication of said at least one brain region and corresponds to the subject's brain neural activity of said at least one selected brain region, wherein said brain activation signature is in a form of a function describing a subset selection of frequency, time data and measurement locations which is sufficient for indicating activation of said at least one brain region without additional spatial scan data;
• (d) storing said first EEG brain activation signature in a memory;
• and
• (e) validating said first EEG brain activating signature by,
• (i) activating said at least one brain region;
• (ii) measuring a set of EEG temporal data during said activating;
• (iii) repeating (b)-(c) to generate a second EEG brain activation signature;
• (iv) comparing said second EEG brain activation signature to said first EEG brain activation signature;
• and
• (v) determining that said first EEG brain activation signature is valid, if said first EEG brain activation signature is similar to said second EEG brain activation signature.

A system for use in monitoring brain activity of a subject using EEG enhanced using additional data, the system comprising a control unit comprising:

• a data input utility for receiving measured data comprising data corresponding to signals measured during a certain time period and being indicative of a subject's brain activity and originated from the subject's brain during said certain time period, wherein said measured data is temporal and spatial data comprising first electroencephalography (EEG) temporal data being time and frequency function of EEG signals measured by an EEG measurement unit, and second spatial functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data for multiple locations within the brain provided by a fMRI scanner;
• and
• a processor utility which is configured and operable for (a) analyzing said EEG temporal data by selecting a specific set of measurement locations and measurement time points in said time period;
• (b) identifying one or more parameters to be used in the processing of said measured EEG temporal data, wherein said parameters comprise one or more of frequency bands, signal amplitudes and signal amplitudes power;
• (c) processing the measured data using said identified one or more parameters and generating data indicative thereof in the form of a multi-parameter function presenting a relation between frequency and time data of said first EEG temporal data measured by the EEG measurement unit and said second spatial fMRI data measured from the multiple locations within the brain by said fMRI scanner;
• (d) analyzing said relation and identifying based on said analyzed relation at least one selected brain region;
• and for (e) generating a subject-related EEG signature based on said analyzed relation, including an indication of said at least one selected brain region and -corresponding to the subject's brain neural activity of said at least one selected brain region, wherein said subject-related EEG signature is in a form of a function describing a subset selection of frequency, time data and measurement locations which is sufficient for indicating activation of said at least one brain region without additional spatial scan data.

A method for processing EEG signals using fMRI signals to generate and EEG signature, the method comprising:

• providing a first set of spatial functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan data measured by a fMRI scanner and corresponding to and showing activation of one or more brain regions during an indicated time period and a second set of EEG temporal data measured by an EEG measurement unit at different measurement locations on a scalp during said indicated time period;
• analyzing said second set of EEG temporal data by selecting a specific set of measurement locations and measurement time points in said time period;
• selecting one or more parameters to be used in the processing of said EEG temporal data, wherein said parameters comprise one or more of frequency bands, signal amplitudes and signal amplitudes power;
• processing said EEG temporal data using said selected one or more parameters to generate a multi-parameter function presenting a relation between frequency and time data of said EEG temporal data measured at said different locations on said scalp;
• identifying a correlation by a computer system between the results of said processing and said fMRI scan data indicating activation of least one selected brain region of said one or more brain regions;
• and
• generating a brain activation signature which includes an indication of said at least one selected brain region and corresponds to the subject's brain neural activity of said at least one selected brain region, wherein said brain activation signature is in a form of a function describing a subset selection of frequency, time data and measurement locations which is sufficient for indicating activation of said at least one selected brain region without additional spatial scan data.