Spatiotemporal structure of intracranial electric fields induced by transcranial electric stimulation in humans and nonhuman primates

Transcranial electric stimulation (TES) is an emerging technique, developed to non-invasively modulate brain function. However, the spatiotemporal distribution of the intracranial electric fields induced by TES remains poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear how much current actually reaches...

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Published in:Scientific reports 2016-08, Vol.6 (1), p.31236-31236, Article 31236
Main Authors: Opitz, Alexander, Falchier, Arnaud, Yan, Chao-Gan, Yeagle, Erin M., Linn, Gary S., Megevand, Pierre, Thielscher, Axel, Deborah A., Ross, Milham, Michael P., Mehta, Ashesh D., Schroeder, Charles E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
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631/57
9/30
Adult
Animals
Brain - physiology
Cebus
EEG
Electric fields
Electroencephalography - instrumentation
Epilepsy
Epilepsy - physiopathology
Epilepsy - therapy
Female
Humanities and Social Sciences
Humans
Male
multidisciplinary
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Spatial distribution
Spatio-Temporal Analysis
Temporal distribution
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation - instrumentation
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Summary:Transcranial electric stimulation (TES) is an emerging technique, developed to non-invasively modulate brain function. However, the spatiotemporal distribution of the intracranial electric fields induced by TES remains poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear how much current actually reaches the brain, and how it distributes across the brain. Lack of this basic information precludes a firm mechanistic understanding of TES effects. In this study we directly measure the spatial and temporal characteristics of the electric field generated by TES using stereotactic EEG (s-EEG) electrode arrays implanted in cebus monkeys and surgical epilepsy patients. We found a small frequency dependent decrease (10%) in magnitudes of TES induced potentials and negligible phase shifts over space. Electric field strengths were strongest in superficial brain regions with maximum values of about 0.5 mV/mm. Our results provide crucial information of the underlying biophysics in TES applications in humans and the optimization and design of TES stimulation protocols. In addition, our findings have broad implications concerning electric field propagation in non-invasive recording techniques such as EEG/MEG.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/srep31236