Can transcranial electric stimulation with multiple electrodes reach deep targets? 2019

Yu Huang, and Lucas C Parra
Department of Biomedical Engineering, City College of the City University of New York, United States.

To reach a deep target in the brain with transcranial electric stimulation (TES), currents have to pass also through the cortical surface. Thus, it is generally thought that TES cannot achieve focal deep brain stimulation. Recent efforts with interfering waveforms and pulsed stimulation have argued that one can achieve deeper or more intense stimulation in the brain. Here we argue that conventional transcranial stimulation with multiple current sources is just as effective as these new approaches. The conventional multi-electrode approach can be numerically optimized to maximize intensity or focality at a desired target location. Using such optimal electrode configurations we find in a detailed and realistic head model that deep targets may in fact be strongly stimulated, with cerebro-spinal fluid guiding currents deep into the brain.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D004566 Electrodes Electric conductors through which electric currents enter or leave a medium, whether it be an electrolytic solution, solid, molten mass, gas, or vacuum. Anode,Anode Materials,Cathode,Cathode Materials,Anode Material,Anodes,Cathode Material,Cathodes,Electrode,Material, Anode,Material, Cathode
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D065908 Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation A technique of brain electric stimulation therapy which uses constant, low current delivered via ELECTRODES placed on various locations on the scalp. Anodal Stimulation Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation,Anodal Stimulation tDCS,Cathodal Stimulation Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation,Cathodal Stimulation tDCS,Repetitive Transcranial Electrical Stimulation,Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation,Transcranial Electrical Stimulation,Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation,tDCS,Anodal Stimulation tDCSs,Cathodal Stimulation tDCSs,Electrical Stimulation, Transcranial,Electrical Stimulations, Transcranial,Stimulation tDCS, Anodal,Stimulation tDCS, Cathodal,Stimulation tDCSs, Anodal,Stimulation tDCSs, Cathodal,Stimulation, Transcranial Electrical,Stimulations, Transcranial Electrical,Transcranial Electrical Stimulations,tDCS, Anodal Stimulation,tDCS, Cathodal Stimulation,tDCSs, Anodal Stimulation,tDCSs, Cathodal Stimulation

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