New release: BESA Research 7.1 September 2020

BESA Research 7.1 is a feature release with many innovative new features, improvements, and bugfixes. This version is fully integrated with the recently released BESA MRI 3.0, for creation and use of individual head models, and visualization of solutions. EEG and MEG can now be modeled simultaneously, and result review was made much more intuitive, revealing new insights in your data in the trademark interactive fashion of BESA Research.

The main highlights of this release are:

Data review and pre-processing:

• Atlas-based source montages: Pre-computed atlas-based source montages are now available from the menu entry Montage/Source/Atlas montages as well as under the Src button in the control ribbon.
• Parallel computing is used for speed-up of many time-consuming tasks.
• Smoother and faster plotting of waveforms eases review of high-density M/EEG data.
• New data readers for XDF and Neuroscan CURRY 8 formats are available.

Source analysis:

• Boundary element model (BEM) integration: Boundary element head models for individual subjects computed in BESA MRI version 3.0 or higher are automatically loaded in the Source Analysis module, for EEG and / or MEG. They can be selected from the model selection dropdown. Finite element models (FEMs) and BEMs for a subject can be loaded at the same time, so that it is possible to toggle between FEM and BEM model type and compare results.
• Combined MEG-EEG source modelling: Combining MEG and EEG for source imaging is now possible. Discrete source fitting as well as all distributed source imaging methods can use the combined model. Simply use the EEG / MEG / MEEG toggle button to switch between the modalities. In case of MEG data with combined magnetometers and gradiometers, you can also toggle whether one or both MEG channel types are combined with the EEG.
• MRI display in multi-slice view: The subject’s MRI with overlay of source images, dipole solutions, atlases, can now be shown in multi-slice view. A highly interactive control set allows to adjust settings on the fly for optimum viewing. Navigation through the MRI was also made easier.
• Use of noise covariance data from individual trials: The full noise covariance matrix from individual trials can now be used in computation of minimum norm estimates.
• The Bayesian source imaging method SESAME was improved to enhance robustness, as well as speed of computation and convergence. For this purpose, hyper-priors were introduced (cf. https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.04141) and parallel computing was optimized for this method.
• Confidence limit calculation and display: For dipole solutions and oriented regional sources, confidence limits are now calculated, displayed, and stored.
• Calculation of beamformer virtual sensor montages based on atlas regions is now supported.
• Two new brain atlases were added: Yeo7 and Yeo17.
• Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) coordinates can now be used in the Source Analysis window.
• The baseline interval definition now features an automatic alert if it interferes with signal of interest.
• Ready-made color schemes for publication purposes are now available.

…plus many new or improved batch commands, and other improvements and bugfixes!

For a full list of new features, improvements, and bug fixes, please browse to /Downloads/besa-research/besa-research-7-1/ and follow the link to BESA Research 7.1 Update History.

You can download BESA Research 7.1 here.

If you are interested in an offer for purchasing a license for BESA Research, please send an e-mail to sales@besa.de.