MJTaylor Lab

Advancing Developmental Neuroscience with Next-Generation MEG

About the lab

We use cutting-edge optically pumped magnetometer-based magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG) to study brain development in very young children. Our research focuses on understanding typical development and neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism. By combining innovative technology with child-focused research methods, we aim to uncover how the brain develops, connects and functions from the earliest years of life.

Dr. Julie Sato (left) and Dr. Margot Taylor (right) helping a participant get ready for an OPM scan

Meet our team

Dr. Margot J. Taylor, Director of Functional Neuroimaging in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Senior Scientist

Our current research projects

Child smiling, wearing a blue OPM-MEG helmet

Our most recent publication

Figure illustrating Increased within-group functional connectivity. A significant within-group network of increased functional connectivity 200 to 400 ms following emotional face onset compared to baseline (0 to −200 ms) in 3- to 5-year-old children. The network is represented in the glass brain; node size is scaled by degree.Safar et al. 2025

Understanding how the brain develops

Our lab at SickKids was the first to install an OPM-MEG system in a paediatric setting in the world. We use this exciting technology to understand how the brain develops from the first years of life.

What is OPM-MEG?

OPM-MEG is a new, wearable form of brain imaging that measures the brain’s magnetic activity with high precision. Unlike traditional MEG (which has been around since the 1960s), OPM sensors are lightweight and can be worn in child-friendly helmets, making this system especially well-suited for studying very young children.