Effects of tissue dielectric properties on the electric field induced in tDCS: a sensitivity analysis
R Salvador1, F Ramirez, M V'yacheslavovna
1Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, Campo-Grande, Lisbon, Portugal. rnsalvador@fc.ul.pt
Abstract:
Numerical modeling studies remain the only viable way to accurately predict the electric field (E-field) distribution in transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Despite the existence of multiple studies of this kind, a wide range of different values and properties for the electrical conductivities of the tissues represented is employed. This makes it difficult to predict whether the changes observed between models are due to differences in the geometries of the volume conductors or to the different electrical properties of the tissues. In this study we used the finite element method to calculate the E-field distribution in several spherical head models whose tissues were represented with different isotropic and anisotropic conductivity profiles. Results show that the distribution of the E-field is especially sensitive to the conductivity of the skull, skin and GM. These results might help comparing numerical modeling studies that employ different conductivity values.
Related Concept Videos
Susceptibility, Permittivity and Dielectric Constant
Dielectric Polarization in a Capacitor
Electrostatic Boundary Conditions in Dielectrics
Consider a case where both the mediums across a boundary are two different dielectric materials. Recall that the electric field and electric displacement are proportional and related through the material's permittivity.
Induced Electric Fields: Applications
Bode Plots Construction
Electric Field of a Charged Disk
The system's symmetry is in the cylindrical directions across the plane of the charge. As a result, the electric fields created by various surface charge elements nullify each other in the direction parallel to the surface. Thereby, the resulting electric field is perpendicular to the plane. Since the disk is...


