Influence of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (TES) waveforms on neural excitability of a realistic axon: a simulation study.

Neuromodulation caused by transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) has been used successfully to treat various neuro-degenerative diseases. Simulation models provide an essential tool to study brain and nerve stimulation. Simulation models of TES provide an opportunity to research personalization of therapy without extensive animal and human testing. A computer model of a realistic sensory axon was built by finding actual geometry of the trigeminal nerve through tractography. A finite element model of the head was solved to obtain electric potential distribution caused by TES. Different waveforms were defined to test transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with varying amplitude and frequency. Neural activity patterns were observed. The strength-duration curve was plotted to verify the model.