Integrated MEG/EEG and fMRI model based on neural masses

Abstract

We introduce a bottom-up model for integrating electroencephalography (EEG) or magnetoencephalography (MEG) with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). An extended neural mass model is proposed based on the physiological principles of cortical minicolumns and their connections. The fMRI signal is extracted from the proposed neural mass model by introducing a relationship between the stimulus and the neural activity and using the resultant neural activity as input of the extended Balloon model. The proposed model, validated using simulations, is instrumental in evaluating the upcoming combined methods for simultaneous analysis of MEG/EEG and fMRI.