Simultaneous PET-MR-EEG: Technology, Challenges and Application in Clinical Neuroscience

Due to technological developments in positron emission tomography (PET) detectors and PET-MR integration, the simultaneous measurement of PET-MR-EEG has become feasible, offering the possibility of exploring the complementary information provided by each modality. Studies have already shown the benefits of simultaneous measurement using PET-MR, however, such achievements come with different technical and practical challenges. In this context, we aim to give an overview of the technical challenges involved in integrating electroencephalography with hybrid PET-MR scanners and demonstrate possible solutions. When acquiring simultaneous data from multiple modalities, the data acquisition protocol should be optimized in order to utilize time and complementary information most effectively. Thus, practical considerations with regard to protocol optimization are also discussed, alongside relevant examples. In addition to simultaneous data acquisition, another major challenge is the integration of the multimodal data, which is also addressed. Finally, a clinical application with a strong focus on neuro-psychiatry is shown. This clinical application is discussed with relevant examples from an ongoing clinical study. Finally, the possibility of utilizing the PET-MR-EEG data in search for new biomarkers for individualized medicine in clinical neuroscience is briefly explored.