Electric Fields Induced by Transcutaneous and Intracranial Current Injections in the Rat Brain

Ahmet S. Asan, Mesut Sahin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

As a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) and specifically the transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has gained popularity in recent years for treatment of a wide variety of cognitive and neurological disorders. Recent studies have shown that TES can alter the motor cortex excitability. Animal studies to demonstrate the underlying mechanisms of TES are clearly lacking in literature. Clinical studies have agreed on the critical role of the current intensity and the montage of the electrodes for the treatment to be effective. In this study, we used a rat model for in vivo investigation of the vertical electrical (E) field distribution due to electrodes placed over the skin and through a craniotomy hole. A mono-phasic current pulse was used as a substitute for DC currents by taking advantage of primarily resistive properties of the brain tissue at low frequencies. The electrical potentials induced by the current pulses were recorded with penetrations at 0mm, 2mm, and 4mm away from the stimulation electrode. The results showed that the E-field was maximum immediately under the anodic electrode and decreased both in the vertical and horizontal directions rapidly by distance. The magnitude of the electric field varied from tens of mV/mm to a fraction of mV/mm by distance for a 100 μ A stimulus amplitude. The results also show that the E-field amplitudes and distribution strongly depend on whether the stimulus electrode is placed over the skin or into a craniotomy hole.

Original languageAmerican English
Title of host publication40th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2018
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages2252-2255
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)9781538636466
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 26 2018
Event40th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2018 - Honolulu, United States
Duration: Jul 18 2018Jul 21 2018

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBS
Volume2018-July

Conference

Conference40th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityHonolulu
Period7/18/187/21/18

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Signal Processing
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
  • Health Informatics

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