Finite Element Modelling Framework for Electroconvulsive Therapy and Other Transcranial Stimulations

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is widely acknowledged as a highly effective treatment for major depressive disorder, and transcranial brain stimulation techniques in general are of great interest for therapeutic neuromodulation and neurostimulation. It is however difficult to determine the effect of electrical stimulation on the brain due to the complex current pathway between the electrodes, which cannot be readily visualized. Computational models of the human head, combined with a finite element implementation of the Laplace equation, can be used to provide information on the electrical stimulus, such as voltage, current density and electric field distributions, helping to understand the effect of transcranial stimulation on particular brain regions of interest. In this chapter, a detailed protocol for creating a finite element computational head model for transcranial electrical stimulation is provided. Procedures outlined include image segmentation, white matter anisotropy extraction, meshing and finite element model implementation. The computational modelling methods described here can be used, for example, for future novel designs of improved ECT protocols.