Sensitivity of EEG/MEG-based reconstruction of neural activity to the finite element model discretization

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and electroencephalography (EEG) are non-invasive methods to analyze the temporal and spatial extent of neuronal activity in the brain. Source reconstruction enables us to decompose and locate the electromagnetic sources representing neuronal activation. Highly accurate source reconstruction is possible with finite element (FE) simulations in which the head as a volume conductor is decomposed into volume elements of a certain size, which each have individual conductivity properties. The question arises of how fine the FE discretization needs to be to produce optimal source reconstruction results.