Magnetoneurography: theory and application to peripheral nerve disorders
Abstract
Magnetoneurography (MNG) is a non-invasive method to trace and visualize three-dimensionally the propagation path of compound action currents (CAC) along peripheral nerves. The basic physical and physiological principle is the mapping of extremely weak magnetic fields generated by the intraaxonal longitudinal ion flows of evoked nerval CAC using SQUID sensors (Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices). During recent years, MNG protocols have been established which allow for a non-invasive spatiotemporal tracing of impulse propagation along peripheral nerves in humans and in particular along proximal nerve segments in a clinical setting. Thereby, the three-dimensional path, the local nerve conduction velocity, the length and strength of the CAC de- and repolarization phase have been reconstructed. First recordings in patients demonstrated that the method is sensitive enough to detect and to localize nerve conduction anomalities along nerve roots, as, e.g. caused by lumbosacral disc herniation. This review on MNG will focus on those studies which provide data from humans and thereby reveal perspectives for its future clinical applications.
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The main clinical perspective of magnetoneurography lies in the diagnosis of proximal mononeuropathies (plexus and root lesions), where conventional electrophysiological tests sometimes fail.
“The main clinical perspective of magnetoneurography lies in the diagnosis of proximal mononeuropathies (plexus and root lesions), where conventional electrophysiological tests sometimes fail”
From A critical review of interfaces with the peripheral nervous system for the control of neuroprostheses and hybrid bionic systems (2005) · cites this paper as Mackert, 2004
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“The main clinical perspective of magnetoneurography lies in the diagnosis of proximal mononeuropathies (plexus and root lesions), where conventional electrophysiological tests sometimes fail (Mackert, 2004).”
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“ve been applied also to other human organs such as stomach and intestines (magnetoenterography), lung (magnetopneumography) [95], muscles (magnetomyography) and peripheral nerves (magnetoneurography) [96]. Other useful biomedical applications include liver iron concentration detection which allows a completely non inv…”
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Novel functional imaging technique for the brachial plexus based on magnetoneurography.
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“These results are in good agreement with those of previous studies on the measurement of the SCEF and the peripheral nerve evoked magnetic field [11]–[13].”
ResultVisualization of electrophysiological activity at the carpal tunnel area using magnetoneurography.
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“Magnetic fields have been measured from the peripheral nerve of the upper extremities of humans (Trahms et al., 1989; Wikswo, 1990; Hoshiyama et al., 1999; Mackert, 2004; Nakanishi et al., 2004).”
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Magnetoneurography as a novel functional imaging technique for the ulnar nerve at the elbow.
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“The development of MNG for the spinal cord and peripheral nerves has been gradual compared with magnetoencephalography and magnetocardiography, mainly owing to the anatomical features of these nerves (Mackert, 2004; Afra, 2020).”
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Detailed magnetoelectric analysis of a nerve impulse propagation along the brachial plexus.
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Zhu, K., & Kiourti, A. (2022) · IEEE Journal of Electromagnetics RF and Microwaves in Medicine and Biology · doi:10.1109/jerm.2022.3187315 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
“Magnetoneurography (MNG) can be used to visualize the propagation path of evoked compound action currents (CAC) along peripheral nerves [16] and quantitate peripheral nerve regeneration [17].”
BackgroundAssessing carpal tunnel syndrome with magnetoneurography.
Sasaki, T., Kawabata, S., Hashimoto, J., Hoshino, Y., Sekihara, K., Adachi, Y., Akaza, M., Fujita, K., Nimura, A., Yoshii, T., et al. (2022) · Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2022.03.021 · Cited by 9
Magnetoneurograhy of an Electrically Stimulated Arm Nerve
Elzenheimer, E., Laufs, H., Sander-Thömmes, T., & Schmidt, G. (2018) · Current Directions in Biomedical Engineering · doi:10.1515/cdbme-2018-0087 · Cited by 9
“In previous SQUID work [5,6], field amplitudes of 10 fT to 100 fT were measured.”
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“Notably, using this technique, propagating CACs and conduction blocks have already been studied in vivo (Fukuoka et al., 2002; 2004) and non-invasively in patients (Mackert et al., 1998; Mackert, 2004).”
MethodPeripheral nerve repair: innovations and future directions
Aldali, F., 唐莉, Yang, Y., Huang, Y., Li, Y., Deng, C., & Chen, H. (2026) · Journal of Translational Medicine · doi:10.1186/s12967-025-07567-z · Cited by 4 · see citing works
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A Review of Magnetoelectric Composites Based on ZnO Nanostructures
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High-Precision Biomagnetic Measurement System Based on Tunnel Magneto-Resistive Effect
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- Authors
- Mackert, B.-M.
- Affiliations
- Stiftung Charité (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Mackert, Bruno-Marcel
- Venue
- Clinical Neurophysiology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2004-12
- Volume
- 115
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 2667-2676
- ISSN
- 1388-2457 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2081173244
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 0.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Neurophysiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Peripheral Nerve Disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Peripheral Neuropathies and Disorders
- Keywords
- peripheral nerve disorders, compound action potential, nerve conduction velocity, SQUID sensors, impulse propagation, nerve root injury, lumbosacral disc herniation, evoked magnetic fields
- MeSH terms
- Evoked Potentials, Humans, Magnetics, Neural Conduction, Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
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