Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulatory technique that delivers low intensity, direct current to cortical areas facilitating or inhibiting spontaneous neuronal activity. This paper investigates how normal variations in anatomy may affect the current flow through the brain. This was done by applying electromagnetic computational methods to human models of different age and gender and by comparing the electric field and current density amplitude distributions within the tissues. Results of this study showed that the general trend of the spatial distributions of the field amplitude shares some gross characteristics among the different human models for the same electrode montages. However, the physical dimension of the subject and his/her morphological and anatomical characteristics somehow influence the detailed field distributions such as the field values.
Highlights
Transcranial direct current stimulation is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that utilizes low amplitude direct current to modulate brain excitability, facilitating or inhibiting spontaneous neuronal activity [1]
Results of this study showed that the general trend of the spatial distributions of the field amplitude shares some gross characteristics among the different human models for the same electrode montages
The maximum value of the color scale is set to the peak of the amplitude distribution in the gray matter for each electrode montage and model
Summary
Transcranial direct current stimulation is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that utilizes low amplitude direct current to modulate brain excitability, facilitating or inhibiting spontaneous neuronal activity [1]. In the last few years, a lot of clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate the effects of tDCS in the treatment of different diseases, from motor, cognitive, and memory processes to depression and pain syndromes, varying the stimulation parameters and the electrode positions [2, 3]. This technique has started to be used in pediatric population [4, 5]. It has been shown that the effects of tDCS depend on the polarity of the electrodes: anodal tDCS has excitatory effect, while cathodal tDCS has inhibitory effects [1,2,3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
