title: A computational model of direct brain stimulation by electroconvulsive therapy.
abstract: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for severe depressive disorder, and yet the mechanisms of its therapeutic effects remain largely unknown. A novel computational model is presented in this study to simulate and investigate direct cortical excitation caused by bitemporal electroconvulsive therapy (BT ECT), using a finite element model (FEM) of the human head. The skull was modeled with anisotropic conductivity, with an excitable ionic neural model incorporated into the brain based on the classic Hodgkin-Huxley formulation. Results suggested that this model is able to reproduce direct stimulation of the cortex during the application of ECT.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia. s.bai@student.unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Siwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loo
authors.forename: Socrates
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dokos
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016880:Anisotropy; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D003198:Computer Simulation; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006257:Head / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology