Modeling Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation-Induced Electric Fields in Children and Adults

Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation that induces electric fields in neuronal tissue, modulating cortical excitability. Therapeutic applications of tDCS are rapidly expanding, and are being investigated in pediatrics for various clinical conditions. Anatomical variations are among a host of factors that influence the effects of tDCS, and pronounced anatomical differences between children and adults suggest that induced electric fields may be substantially different across development. The aim of this study was to determine the strength and distribution of tDCS-induced electric fields across development. Typically developing children, adolescents, and adults were recruited. Individualized finite-element method modeling of primary motor cortex (M1) targeting tDCS was performed. In the largest pediatric sample to date, we found significantly higher peak and mean M1 electric field strength, and more expansive electric field spread for children compared to adults. Electric fields were often comparable between adolescents and adults. Our results suggest that these differences may be associated with age-related differences in skull and extra-axial space thickness, as well as developmental changes occurring in gray and white matter. Individualized current modeling may be a valuable tool for personalizing effective doses of tDCS in future pediatric clinical trials.