Work

Electric field variations across DLPFC targeting methods in TMS therapy for Alzheimer’s disease

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: • The spatial dispersion of functional targets is 2.63 times that of anatomical targets. • E-field at the functional target is significantly higher than that at nearby anatomical target ( P < 0.001), when the coil is positioned above functional target. • Coil orientation selectively modulates E-fields. With the handle perpendicular to the anatomical-functional target axis, functional target E-field was maintained while anatomical target E-field was suppressed. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is crucial for cognitive control and a primary target for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, understanding the distribution of TMS-induced electric field (E-field) across different targeting methods remains limited, as does its relationship to therapeutic outcomes. This study assesses differences in TMS-induced E-field using functional versus anatomical targeting methods for DLPFC stimulation. Functional and anatomical targets were identified in 30 (11 M/19F) AD patients and 30 (13 M/17F) age-matched healthy controls (HCs) using T1 and fMRI data. E-field characteristics, including magnitude (E ROI ) and normal component (E ⊥ ), were calculated via SimNIBS software for comparisons across stimulation targets. Functional targeting showed greater spatial dispersion compared to anatomical targeting in both groups. Significant E-field differences were observed between the functional target and adjacent anatomical regions when the coil was positioned over the functional target in both groups. Optimal coil orientation exhibited directional specificity: parallel alignment with the LOI E-field produced higher field intensity in the functional target compared to the anatomical target (AD patients: P < 0.001; HCs: P = 0.052), while perpendicular orientation maintained functional stability with reduced anatomical interference (both groups: P < 0.001). And significant variations in E-field ratios were observed across coil orientations. This study reveals key E-field disparities across DLPFC targeting approaches and establishes coil orientation optimization as a critical strategy to improve TMS precision, offering actionable insights for developing personalized protocols in AD therapy that may enhance treatment efficacy while minimizing adverse effects.

Source: NeuroImage Clinical

DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2025.103847