Single-Subject TMS Pulse Visualization on MRI-Based Brain Model: A precise method for mapping TMS pulses on cortical surface

Abstract

Highly accurate visualization of the points of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) application on the brain cortical surface could provide anatomy-specific analysis of TMS effects. TMS is widely used to activate cortical areas with high spatial resolution, and neuronavigation enables site-specific TMS of particular gyrus sites. Precise control of TMS application points is crucial in determining the stimulation effects. Here, we propose a method that gives an opportunity to visualize and analyze the stimulated cortical sites by processing multi-parameter data. • This method uses MRI data to create a participant's brain model for visualization. The MRI data is segmented to obtain a raw 3D model, which is further optimized in 3D modeling software. • A Python script running in Blender uses the TMS coil's orientation data and participant's brain 3D model to define and mark the cortical sites affected by the particular TMS pulse. • The Python script can be easily customized to visualize TMS points task-specifically.

Keywords

• TMS-affected Cortical points Visualization on MRI-based Brain Model. The software tool is implemented using the Python language and runs on the Blender software platform. It uses a subject-specific 3D model of the brain's cortical surface reconstructed from MRI data. The software marks the points of TMS application on the cortical surface