Abstract

 

Purpose

Subdural cortical stimulation is known to be useful in treating brain disorders by injection of electrical current through electrodes beneath the dura matter. However, due to huge experimental cost, it has been rarely investigated precisely how subdural cortical stimulation has to be applied to yield the most effective results. As an alternative, the computational study for subdural cortical stimulation is greatly beneficial for this purpose and it is necessary to develop well-established simulation environment for computational cortical stimulation study.

Methods

We developed a modeling procedure for subdural cortical stimulation, and its simulation environment, called E-CoCS (Environment of Computational Simulator for Cortical Stimulation). Based on our brain modeling method, which specializes in subdural cortical stimulation, the user can predict electric potential, electric field, and current density induced in subdural cortical stimulation depending on electrode type, position, and stimulation amplitude without any coding or scripting.

Results

E-CoCS includes an anatomically realistic human brain model using a pre-meshed surface and provides 2 types of electric property for white matter (isotropic or anisotropic electric conductivity). In post-processing, E-CoCS offers 3 kinds of modality (electric potential, electric field, current density distribution) in a surface or slice view.

Conclusions

E-CoCS can be an excellent tool in investigating the effects or mechanisms of subdural cortical stimulation under the various conditions. It provides user-friendly GUI, computing and visualization environment under the realistic brain model. Since E-CoCS is freely distributed and easily accessible to any investigators, it would be helpful in stimulating this field in the near future.