Numerical investigation of the electric field distribution induced in the brain by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Abstract

Introduction.
There has been considerable interest over the years in the treatment of serious physiological and clinical conditions, such as depression and pain relief, by
utilising electromagnetic fields through Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) of the human brain [1].
Most of the effort has recently focused on the attempt to stimulate neurons deep inside the brain mass and to limit any hazards posed by this treatment. As a result, there is a need for new TMS coil configurations to generate sufficient and localized electric fields to achieve deep stimulation.
The advent of more powerful computers and the emergence of more accurate models for the electric properties and shape of the human brain have enabled
numerical modelling to become a significant and reliable tool for the design and optimisation of such new TMS devices in order to achieve the above requirements. The experimental prediction of the electric field distribution is still a formidable task so simulation of the fields induced inside the brain, is crucial in the optimisation and design of the stimulus coils.
This paper presents results on the simulation ofTMS by using the Finite Element Method (FEM) in three dimensions and looks at the effects of the stimulation coils and geometrical model of the head on the distribution and penetration of the electric field induced in the brain during TMS. It is revealed that the incorporation of an accurate brain model in terms of shape as well as conductivity values is crucial for an improved estimation of field distribution and threshold fields inside the brain.

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Identifiers

ORCID for J.K. Sykulski: orcid.org/0000-0001-6392-126X

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