Effect of triangular electrode schemes on Broca's cortical stimulation: conventional and HD-tDCS study.

Abstract

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a therapeutic and complementary treatment in several cognitive diseases, psychiatric disorders, and disabilities that occur due to an accident or stroke. In the current research, we aimed to boost some parts of the stimulation structure and proposed a new electrode scheme in the mentioned approach. After segmenting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and using a tissue correction routine algorithm, we attempted to create an appropriate head model and electrode placement according to electric stimulation, whereby we completed tDCS processing. The considered electrodes are divided into two general categories. All the considered electrodes consist of rectangular, circular, triangular, and empty triangular patches with specific dimensions. We investigated common electrode schemes and introduced better electrode schemes for more effective cortical stimulation. We observed that the triangular electrodes in the conventional and anodal arrangement in the triangular 4 × 1 HD-tDCS create more electric field than others. Also, we calculated the current density and attempted to substantially improve it. Therefore, we recommended the empty triangular schemes. We investigated the designed model thoroughly and observed that it increased the current density not only in the conventional but also in the HD-tDCS. Graphical abstract.