Noise cancellation in magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography with isolated reference sensors

1. Apparatus for measuring electromagnetic signals from a weak signal source, comprising;

a plurality of primary sensors configured to be in functional proximity to the weak signal source;

an electromagnetic field isolation surface arranged in proximity to the primary sensors and between the weak signal source and sources of ambient noise; and

a plurality of reference sensors in proximity to the electromagnetic field isolation surface and arranged between the electromagnetic isolation surface and sources of ambient noise,

wherein said reference sensors are substantially shielded from the weak signal source by the isolation surface, and,

wherein said primary sensors, isolation surface and all reference sensors are enclosed in a single cryogenic container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic field isolation surface is a superconducting surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reference sensors are superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs).

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the primary sensors are SQUIDs.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the primary sensors are electropotential sensors.

6. A method for obtaining a noise-free signal from a weak source of electromagnetic fields comprising:

placing primary sensors on a first side of an electromagnetic field isolation surface and reference sensors adjacent on a second side of the electromagnetic field isolation surface opposing the first side;

placing the primary sensors in operative proximity to the weak source of electromagnetic field;

forming a source signal from an output of the primary sensors that includes a signal from the weak source of electromagnetic fields;

measuring a reference signal from an output of the reference sensors comprised essentially of ambient electromagnetic noise;

forming a correcting signal from the reference signal;

subtracting the correcting signal from the source signal to output the noise-free signal.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the weak source of electromagnetic fields is a human brain.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the weak source of electromagnetic fields is electrical currents generated by the flow of ions in and around active brain neurons.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the electromagnetic field isolation surface is a superconducting imaging surface.