Prototyping Temporal Interference Stimulation Using Low-Cost Models

Temporal Interference Stimulation (TIS) is an emerging technique for noninvasive focally-controlled electrical stimulation of neural structures. Progress in TIS is predicated on understanding of stimulation amplitudes in tissues. To better optimize spatiotemporal patterns of stimulation, we suggest the use of simple benchtop phantom model experiments. We describe techniques to map temporal interference hotspots and extrapolate such findings to an insect model, Locusta migratoria. We discuss the importance of mapping the amplitudes of tonic and phasic stimulation present when applying TIS in vitro and in vivo, to effectively harness the unique spatiotemporal stimulation patterns inherent to TIS.Clinical Relevance- TIS is used clinically for stimulation of the central and peripheral nervous systems, the methods suggested here represent effective strategies to plan and model stimulation experiments to verify where stimulation foci will be, to understand on-target versus off-target stimulation.