The aim of the present study was to compare the EEG signal recorded outside and inside a 1.5T magnetic resonance (MR) scanner. The EEG was recorded in eyes open and eyes closed conditions using a digital recording MR-compatible system. To characterize how a static magnetic field induces changes in EEG signal, EEG data were analyzed using FFT frequency analysis. No significant difference between the alpha powers recorded outside and inside the magnetic field was observed in eyes closed conditions. However, in eyes open condition there was a significant increase in alpha power inside the magnet in comparison to the outside position. The changes in alpha power according to the eyes open/closed conditions could be inversely correlated to a subject's state of wakefulness and due to some physiological changes, rather than an effect of the magnetic field. This experiment suggests that subjects' state of wakefulness is of prime concern when performing functional MRI.
