Brain Stimulation 6 (2013): 704-705

Marom Bikson, Jacek Dmochowski, Asif Rahman

From the articles ” Computational models of transcranial stimulation predict brain current flow patterns for dose optimization. Translational animal models aim at elucidating the cellular mechanisms of neuromodu- lation. Here we identify and define a ubiquitous assumption under- lying both computational and animal models, referred to herein as the “quasi-uniform assumption”. Though we attempt to rationalize the biophysical plausibility for the quasi-uniform assumption based on the limited electric field gradients generated during stimulation, our goal is neither to justify nor repudiate it, but rather emphasize its implicit use in a majority of modeling and animal studies. ”

Read the whole thing here

Cranial electrotherapy stimulation and transcranial pulsed current stimulation: A computer based high-resolution modeling study

Abhishek Datta, Jacek P. Dmochowski, Berkan Guleyupoglu, Marom Bikson, Felipe Fregni

Neuroimage. 2013 Jan 15;65:280-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.09.062. Epub 2012 Oct 5

Highlights:

► CES-induced current passes the skull and reaches cortical and subcortical areas.

► CES induced brain electric fields ranges from 0.2 to 0.6 V/m depending on the model.

► CES induced electrical current varies according to the electrode montage.

► Peak electric fields in some subcortical areas were similar to cortical regions.

► CES induced currents in the mid-brain exceed cortical values in some montages.

Download PDF 

Picture from Davide Reato.

Computational modeling of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in obesity: Impact of head fat and dose guidelines

NeuroImage: Clinical 2 (2013) 759–766

Dennis Q. Truong, Greta Magerowski, George L. Blackburn, Marom Bikson,Miguel Alonso-Alonso

Full PDF

Abstract

Recent studies show that acute neuromodulation of the prefrontal cortex with transcranial direct current stim- ulation (tDCS) can decrease food craving, attentional bias to food, and actual food intake. These data suggest po- tential clinical applications for tDCS in the field of obesity. However, optimal stimulation parameters in obese individuals are uncertain. One fundamental concern is whether a thick, low-conductivity layer of subcutaneous fat around the head can affect current density distribution and require dose adjustments during tDCS adminis- tration. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of head fat on the distribution of current during tDCS and evaluate whether dosing standards for tDCS developed for adult individuals in general are adequate for the obese population. We used MRI-derived high-resolution computational models that delineated fat layers in five human heads from subjects with body mass index (BMI) ranging from “normal-lean” to “super-obese” (20.9 to 53.5 kg/m2). Data derived from these simulations suggest that head fat influences tDCS current density across the brain, but its relative contribution is small when other components of head anatomy are added. Cur- rent density variability between subjects does not appear to have a direct and/or simple link to BMI. These results indicate that guidelines for the use of tDCS can be extrapolated to obese subjects without sacrificing efficacy and/ or treatment safety; the recommended standard parameters can lead to the delivery of adequate current flow to induce neuromodulation of brain activity in the obese population.

Methods to focalize noninvasive electrical brain stimulation: principles and future clinical development for the treatment of pain

Expert Rev. Neurother. 13(5), 465-7 (2013)

Cano T, Morales-Quezada JL, Bikson M, Fregni F.

PMID: 23621302

Read the PDF

-Tuesday May 21, 2012, Steinman Lecture Hall –

Please join us for a very special event at the Grove School of Engineering on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 – the 3rd Annual Kaylie Prize for Entrepreneurship at The City College of New York.   In topics ranging from using online tools to change how we wait in lines, changing paper recycling with disappearing ink, to wall-climbing robots in the subway, to innovations in medical technology, the Kaylie semi-finalist teams will compete in fast-paced presentations and physical demonstrations – culminating in the selection of a winner.

The Kaylie Prize for Entrepreneurship was established in 2010 through an endowment by alumnus Harvey Kaylie.  Mr. Kaylie is president and founder of Mini-Circuits, a Brooklyn-based RF and microwave electronic components design, manufacture, and distribution company.  The Kaylie Prize for Entrepreneurship has developed into one of the most innovative and exciting entrepreneurship mechanisms in New York City. It has facilitated rapid acceleration of commercialization of student-generated ideas. The prize is directed by Prof. Marom Bikson.

This event is an opportunity to experience an intensive one-day competition and join a network of NYC area business and engineering leaders.

 So please join us in the Steinman Lecture Hall:

3:30 pm               Opening remarks by President Coico, Mr. Kaylie and Dean Barba

3:44 pm               Introduction of teams by Prof. Marom Bikson

3:45 – 4:45 pm     Short presentations by each of the 5 teams
4:45 – 6:45 pm     Reception and judging

6:45 – 7:00 pm     Announcement of the winners by Mr. Kaylie  

Cellular Effects of Acute Direct Current Stimulation: Somatic and Synaptic Terminal Effects.

Rahman A, Reato D, Arlotti M, Gasca F, Datta A, Parra LC, Bikson M.

J Physiol. 2013

Download paper

Pubmed link 

The Department of Biomedical Engineering at the City College of new York celebrates four outstanding graduate researchers from the Neural Engineering group.

Davide Reato – Wallace H Coulter Outstanding Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Award

Marta Isabel Vanegas-Arroyave – Outstanding Research Project by a Master’s Candidate

John Ettikkalayil – Outstanding Academic Performance by a Master’s Candidate

Maged Elwassif – Graduate Academic Excellence

Congratulations to all!

9th May 2pm

Making Sense of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: From High-Definition to Individualised Targeting

Marom Bikson, PhD. Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York of CUNY

Seminar Room A, Level 6, west Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital

Neuroimage

Physiological and modeling evidence for focal transcranial electrical brain stimulation in humans: A basis for high-definition tDCS

PDF

AND

J. Neural Eng. 10 (2013) 036018 (10pp) doi:10.1088/1741-2560/10/3/036018
Validation of finite element model of transcranial electrical stimulation using scalp potentials: implications
for clinical dose
PDF

Just a casual video of a day in CCNY Neural Engineering.

Dr. Bikson spoke at the Magstim Neuroenhancement Conference on May 4th 2013.

Slides (PDF) Magstim2013_Bikson_Marom

and some pictures:

We have three openings tenure-track faculty positions in “Translational Neuroscience” here at CCNY encompassing clinical, basic, and computational neuroscience. The home department for each position is fairly flexible, though we envision one hire in Biomedical Engineering, one in Psychology and one in the Medical School. Joint appointments with Math, Biology, etc. are also possible. The search will consider all ranks from Assistant to Full professor.

Please also distribute this announcement to students or collaborators who may be interested.

https://home.cunyfirst.cuny.edu/psp/cnyepprd/GUEST/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?Page=HRS_CE_JOB_DTL&Action=A&JobOpeningId=8049&Site

PRISM Lecture/Neuroscience joint talk:

“The tongue as visual surrogate: experiences with sensory substitution for blindness”

AMY C. NAU, OD, FAAO

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Tuesday April 30, 2013, Time: 12:35 – 1:45 PM  Location: NAC 7/236 

Abstract: Sensory substitution is a newer concept for restoring a sense of the environment to the completely blind.  How to test performance for states of ultra low vision in the context of artificial vision, particularly those mediated through non-visual pathways is a new area of research.  This lecture will provide an overview of experiences using the BrainPort and some method to conduct objective and quantifiable assessments of behavioral performances.  In addition, preliminary results of neuroimaging studies using diffusion tensor MR imaging (DTI) and functional positron emission tomography (PET) will be shown to suggest that the visual brain becomes less organized as a function of blindness duration.

Biography: Dr. Nau is the Director of optometric and low vision services for the UPMC Eye Center, and the founder of the Sensory Substitution Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh. She graduated from the New England College of Optometry and completed a residency in ocular disease at the VAMC in Boston. She practiced at the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston for five years and has been at the University of Pittsburgh since 2003.  Clinically, she specializes in medical contact lenses for ocular surface and corneal disease, including scleral lenses and contacts for artificial corneas. Her research interests primarily center on artificial vision technologies for the blind, including sensory substitution. Her laboratory has conducted the largest human studies to date of the BrainPort Vision Device, which uses the tongue as a means to convey visual information to the brain.

UPDATE.  All three candidates passed the thesis defenses!  We are very proud of outstanding projects and presentations.

Showin in picture (left to right):

Prof. Simon Kelly, Prof. Lucas Parra, Marta Isabel Vanegas Arroyave (soon MS), Linford Leitch (soon MS), Dennis Truong (soon MS), Prof. Marom Bikson.

Friday, April 26th 2013

10:30 AM  “A novel visual stimulation paradigm: exploiting individual primary visual cortex geometry to boost steady state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP).” MS Candidate MARTA ISABEL VANEGAS ARROYAVE.  Advisor: Prof. Simon Kelly. Location: Steinman BME 5th Floor conference room

12:00 PM “Finite Element Study of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: customization of models and montages.” MS candidate DENNNIS Q. TRUONG. Advisor: Prof. Marom Bikson, Location: Steinman Room 2M13 (floor 2M)

1:30 PM  “Design, Product Development, and Risk Assessment of Tin (Sn) ring electrodes as a substitute to Silver-Silver Chloride (Ag/AgCl) ring electrodes for High Definition – transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS).” MS Candidate LINFORD LEITCH, Location: Steinman Room 2M13 (floor 2M)

3:00 PM  Picture time.  Please meet right in front of Steinman Hall and please be prompt, as we will take pictures right away (if it rains meet in Neural Engineering).  Because we have not updated our picture in years, current and PAST lab members should come.  Please spread the word to everyone (since not everyone might be on the mailing lists).   All students, volunteers, lab affiliates should come.

With Dr. Marom Bikson as PI, the CCNY Neural Engineering group was awarded a major 3 years grant from the Department of Defense (DoD) Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).

During transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), low-intensity DC current is applied across the scalp to enhance specific performance or training efficacy on a range of complex cognitive tasks; moreover tDCS has been suggested to produce minimal side-effects (undesired cognitive changes).  The central premise of this proposal if that tDCS achieves task-specific modulation through a cellular mechanism where only neuronal circuits primed during tDCS (for example by training) are modulated by tDCS, while none primed mechanisms are not modulated.  The specific goal of this proposal is thus to establish a cellular substrate for DCS mediated activation-specific changes.

New York City tDCS workshop on April 1, co-directed by Dr. Marom Bikson, hosted at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital by Soterix Medical Inc.

We will be there!  The workshop is expected to sell out so reserve a spot ASAP.

Talk by Dr. Marom Bikson, Dr. Felipe Fregni, and Dr. Dylan Awards,

Hands-on workshop on tDCS and HD-tDCS (!) plus demonstration of HDexplore and HDtargets,

Our lab will be running an hands-on modeling tutorial during one of the break-out sessions.

More details at the Soterix Medical website here 

PubMed link and read the PRESS RELEASE at Soterix Medical.

J Pain. 2013 Feb 14. pii: S1526-5900(12)00967-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2012.12.007. [Epub ahead of print]

Focal Modulation of the Primary Motor Cortex in Fibromyalgia Using 4×1-Ring High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS): Immediate and Delayed Analgesic Effects of Cathodal and Anodal Stimulation.

Villamar MF, Wivatvongvana P, Patumanond J, Bikson M, Truong DQ, Datta A, Fregni F.

Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.

Abstract: Fibromyalgia is a prevalent chronic pain syndrome characterized by altered pain and sensory processing in the central nervous system, which is often refractory to multiple therapeutic approaches. Given previous evidence supporting analgesic properties of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques in this condition, this study examined the effects of a novel, more focal method of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), using the 4×1-ring configuration of high-definition (HD)-tDCS, on overall perceived pain in fibromyalgia patients. In this patient- and assessor-blind, sham-controlled, crossover trial, 18 patients were randomized to undergo single 20-minute sessions of anodal, cathodal, and sham HD-tDCS at 2.0 mA in a counterbalanced fashion. The center electrode was positioned over the left primary motor cortex. Pain scales and sensory testing were assessed before and after each intervention. A finite element method brain model was generated to predict electric field distribution. We found that both active stimulation conditions led to significant reduction in overall perceived pain as compared to sham. This effect occurred immediately after cathodal HD-tDCS and was evident for both anodal and cathodal HD-tDCS 30 minutes after stimulation. Furthermore, active anodal stimulation induced a significant bilateral increase in mechanical detection thresholds. These interventions proved well tolerated in our patient population. PERSPECTIVE: 4×1-ring HD-tDCS, a novel noninvasive brain stimulation technique capable of more focal and targeted stimulation, provides significant reduction in overall perceived pain in fibromyalgia patients as compared to sham stimulation, irrespective of current polarity. This technique may have other applications in research and clinical settings, which should be further explored.

Prof. Marom Bikson to give lectures in Israel (updated Google+ link)

— January 7, 2 PM-3 PM SEMINAR followed by WORKSHOP on tDCS and HD-tDCS

“Transcranial direct current stimulation: Devices, therapies and clinical trials”

The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center at Bar-Ilan University, Israel

Directions and details here

— Jan 13, 2 PM

“High-Definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Non-invasive and targeted neuromodulation.”

Abstract: High-Definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) was developed by Prof. Marom Bikson and colleagues at The City College of New York in 2006.  HD-tDCS allows for delivery of low-intensity electrical current to targeted brain regions, is low-cost, portable, and well-tolerated.  HD-tDCS uses arrays of scalp electrodes, energized according to subject specific algorithms, to deliver current in an optimized and safe manner. HD-tDCS is under clinical trial for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders (including neuropathic pain) for stroke rehabilitation (including motor and speech) and as a neuromodulation tool for cognitive neuroscience (including accelerated learning). The technology and applications of HD-tDCS are reviewed.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel University Link