Computational human head models of tDCS: Influence of brain atrophy on current density distribution

Despite increasing attention to the application of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for enhancing cognitive functions in subjects exposing to varying degree of cerebral atrophy such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), aging, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), there is no general inform...

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Main Authors: Shirin Mahdavi, Farzad Towhidkhah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2018-01-01
Series:Brain Stimulation
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1935861X17309051
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spelling doaj-07163c48c6dc4e71a8cd58da95b3ef7a2021-03-19T07:11:13ZengElsevierBrain Stimulation1935-861X2018-01-01111104107Computational human head models of tDCS: Influence of brain atrophy on current density distributionShirin Mahdavi0Farzad Towhidkhah1Biomedical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, IranCorresponding author.; Biomedical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, IranDespite increasing attention to the application of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for enhancing cognitive functions in subjects exposing to varying degree of cerebral atrophy such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), aging, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), there is no general information for customizing stimulation protocol. Objective: The objective of this study is to examine how cerebral shrinkage associated with cognitive impairment and aging can perturb current density distribution through the brain. Methods: We constructed three high-resolution human head models representing young, elder, and MCI subjects and modeled two electrode configurations using rectangular electrodes. Results: Our results showed that decreasing gray matter volume in MCI, as well as aging, reduced the magnitude of the current density in the brain compared to the young model. Also, morphology alterations of the cerebral sulcus could shape the vectors of the current density to flow in the depth of cortical regions by cerebrospinal fluid. Conclusion: This study provides a framework for further advanced studies in establishing new methodologies or modifying stimulation parameters.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1935861X17309051Computational modelingtDCSMild cognitive impairmentFinite element analysisBrain atrophyAging
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Shirin Mahdavi
Farzad Towhidkhah
spellingShingle Shirin Mahdavi
Farzad Towhidkhah
Computational human head models of tDCS: Influence of brain atrophy on current density distribution
Brain Stimulation
Computational modeling
tDCS
Mild cognitive impairment
Finite element analysis
Brain atrophy
Aging
author_facet Shirin Mahdavi
Farzad Towhidkhah
author_sort Shirin Mahdavi
title Computational human head models of tDCS: Influence of brain atrophy on current density distribution
title_short Computational human head models of tDCS: Influence of brain atrophy on current density distribution
title_full Computational human head models of tDCS: Influence of brain atrophy on current density distribution
title_fullStr Computational human head models of tDCS: Influence of brain atrophy on current density distribution
title_full_unstemmed Computational human head models of tDCS: Influence of brain atrophy on current density distribution
title_sort computational human head models of tdcs: influence of brain atrophy on current density distribution
publisher Elsevier
series Brain Stimulation
issn 1935-861X
publishDate 2018-01-01
description Despite increasing attention to the application of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for enhancing cognitive functions in subjects exposing to varying degree of cerebral atrophy such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), aging, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), there is no general information for customizing stimulation protocol. Objective: The objective of this study is to examine how cerebral shrinkage associated with cognitive impairment and aging can perturb current density distribution through the brain. Methods: We constructed three high-resolution human head models representing young, elder, and MCI subjects and modeled two electrode configurations using rectangular electrodes. Results: Our results showed that decreasing gray matter volume in MCI, as well as aging, reduced the magnitude of the current density in the brain compared to the young model. Also, morphology alterations of the cerebral sulcus could shape the vectors of the current density to flow in the depth of cortical regions by cerebrospinal fluid. Conclusion: This study provides a framework for further advanced studies in establishing new methodologies or modifying stimulation parameters.
topic Computational modeling
tDCS
Mild cognitive impairment
Finite element analysis
Brain atrophy
Aging
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1935861X17309051
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