Electrical Source Distribution Research Articles

Precise Estimation of Brain Electrical Sources Using Anatomically Constrained Area Source (ACAS) Localization

This paper proposes a new parametric source model to precisely estimate brain electrical source distribution from electroencephalogram (EEG) or magnetoencephalogram recordings. In the proposed approach, only four free parameters need to be evaluated for each anatomically constrained area source to express both spatial locations and extensions of brain electrical activities on cortical surface. The feasibility of the proposed model is verified through the applications to realistic EEG simulations and epilepsy patient's data

Theoretical analysis of pre-receptor image conditioning in weakly electric fish.

Electroreceptive fish detect nearby objects by processing the information contained in the pattern of electric currents through the skin. The distribution of local transepidermal voltage or current density on the sensory surface of the fish's skin is the electric image of the surrounding environment. This article reports a model study of the quantitative effect of the conductance of the internal tissues and the skin on electric image generation in Gnathonemus petersii (Günther 1862). Using realistic modelling, we calculated the electric image of a metal object on a simulated fish having different combinations of internal tissues and skin conductances. An object perturbs an electric field as if it were a distribution of electric sources. The equivalent distribution of electric sources is referred to as an object's imprimence. The high conductivity of the fish body lowers the load resistance of a given object's imprimence, increasing the electric image. It also funnels the current generated by the electric organ in such a way that the field and the imprimence of objects in the vicinity of the rostral electric fovea are enhanced. Regarding skin conductance, our results show that the actual value is in the optimal range for transcutaneous voltage modulation by nearby objects. This result suggests that “voltage” is the answer to the long-standing question as to whether current or voltage is the effective stimulus for electroreceptors. Our analysis shows that the fish body should be conceived as an object that interacts with nearby objects, conditioning the electric image. The concept of imprimence can be extended to other sensory systems, facilitating the identification of features common to different perceptual systems.

Low-resolution electrical tomography of the brain during psychometrically matched verbal and spatial cognitive tasks.

EEGs were recorded from 75 normal, young, female subjects during psychometrically matched verbal (WF) and spatial (DL) cognitive tasks to elicit the differences in the electrical source distribution inside the brain. Recordings were obtained using 43 EEG and 3 guard electrodes then visually edited and spatially filtered to remove extracerebral artifacts. Twenty 1-sec artifact-free epochs were obtained and analyzed from 42 and 60 subjects during WF and DL respectively. Of these subjects, 20 were placed in a training set and the remainder into a test set. The baseline for the comparison of the two tasks was established by factoring the average cross-spectral matrices of the training-set EEGs, computed in the theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands into spatial patterns common to the two tasks. Only those spatial patterns that contributed to the correct classification of subjects in the test set were included in the source analysis. The source-current density distributions were obtained using the LORETA-KEY algorithm. The results show that the source-current density distribution is related to the putative functional activity in the brain in all three frequency bands. The electrical effects of the tasks are both most highly localized and lateralized in the theta band. The effects in the alpha and beta bands are much more generalized and are strongly lateralized only during one and the other of the tasks respectively. The conclusion is that WF is mainly a left central and bilateral frontal cerebral process while DL is mainly a right central and bilateral posterior cerebral process.

Forward problem solution of electromagnetic source imaging using a new BEM formulation with high-order elements

Representations of the active cell populations on the cortical surface via electric and magnetic measurements are known as electromagnetic source images (EMSIs) of the human brain. Numerical solution of the potential and magnetic fields for a given electrical source distribution in the human brain is an essential part of electromagnetic source imaging. In this study, the performance of the boundary element method (BEM) is explored with different surface element types. A new BEM formulation is derived that makes use of isoparametric linear, quadratic or cubic elements. The surface integration is performed with Gauss quadrature. The potential fields are solved assuming a concentric three-shell model of the human head for a tangential dipole at different locations. In order to achieve 2% accuracy in potential solutions, the number of quadratic elements is of the order of hundreds. However, with linear elements, this number is of the order of ten thousand. The relative difference measures (RDMs) are obtained for the numerical models that use different element types. The numerical models that employ quadratic and cubic element types provide superior performance over linear elements in terms of accuracy in solutions. Assuming a homogeneous sphere model of the head, the RDMs are also obtained for the three components (radial and tangential) of the magnetic fields. The RDMs obtained for the tangential fields are, in general, much higher than those obtained for the radial fields. Both quadratic and cubic elements provide superior performance compared with linear elements for a wide range of dipole locations.

Differential effects of normal aging on sources of standard N1, target N1 and target P300 auditory event-related brain potentials revealed by low resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA)

The P300 event-related potential (ERP) is considered to be closely related to cognitive processes. In normal aging, P300 scalp latencies increase, parietal P300 scalp amplitudes decrease and the scalp potential field shifts to a relatively more frontal distribution. Based on ERPs recorded in 172 normal healthy subjects aged between 20 and 88 years in an auditory oddball paradigm, the effects of age on the electrical activity in the brain corresponding to N1 and P300 components were estimated by means of low resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). This distributed approach directly computes a unique 3-dimensional electrical source distribution by assuming that neighbouring neurons are simultaneously and synchronously active. N1 LORETA generators, located predominantly in both auditory cortices and also symmetrically in prefrontal areas, increased with advancing age for standards but remained stable for targets. P300 LORETA generators, located symmetrically in the prefrontal cortex, in the parieto-occipital junction and in the inferior parietal cortex (supramarginal gyrus) and medially in the superior parietal cortex, were differentially affected by age. While age did not affect parieto-occipital sources, superior parietal and right prefrontal sources decreased pronouncedly. Thus, in normal aging, P300 current density decreased in regions were a fronto-parietal network for sustained attention was localized.

Eddy-current interaction with an ideal crack. I. The forward problem

The impedance of an eddy-current probe changes when the current it induces in an electrical conductor is perturbed by a flaw such as a crack. In predicting the probe signals, it is expedient to introduce idealizations about the nature of the flaw. Eddy-current interaction is considered with an ideal crack having a negligible opening and acting as a impenetrable barrier to electric current. The barrier gives rise to a discontinuity in the electromagnetic field that has been calculated by finding an equivalent electrical source distribution that produces the same effect. The choice of source is between a current dipole layer or a magnetic dipole layer; either will give the required jump in the electric field at the crack. Here a current dipole layer is used. The strength of the equivalent source distribution has been found by solving a boundary integral equation with a singular kernel. From the solution, the probe impedance due to the crack has been evaluated. Although analytical solutions are possible for special cases, numerical approximations are needed for cracks of arbitrary shape. Following a moment method scheme, numerical predictions have been made for both rectangular and semielliptical ideal cracks. These predictions have been compared with experiments performed on narrow slots used to simulate ideal cracks. Good agreement has been found between the calculations and the measurements.