Active behavior of peripheral nerves during magnetic stimulation

Abstract

We present a model that predicts the electric field induced in the arm during magnetic stimulation of a peripheral nerve. The arm is represented as a homogeneous, cylindrical volume conductor. The electric field arises from two sources: the time - varying magnetic field and the accumulation of charge on the tissue - air surface. The effect of the induced electric field upon the nerve is determined with a cable model which contains active Hodgkin-Huxley elements. Once the coil's position and shape are given, and the resistance, capacitance and the initial voltage of the stimulating circuit are specified, the resulting transmembrane potential of the fiber is calculated as a function of distance and time. © 2010 International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering.