Abstract
Three-dimensional finite-element models provide a method to study the relationship between human scalp potentials and neural current sources inside the brain. A new formulation of dipole-like current sources is developed here. Finiteelement analyses based on this formulation are carried out for both a threeconcentric-spheres model and a human-head model. Differences in calculated scalp potentials between these two models are studied in the context of the forward and inverse problems in EEG. The effects of the eye orbit structure on surface potential distribution are also studied.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ary, J. P., Klein, S. A. andFender, D. H. (1981) Location of sources of evoked scalp potentials: corrections for skull and scalp thickness.IEEE Trans.,BME-28, 447–452.
Cook, R. (1981)Concepts and applications of finite element analysis. Wiley, New York.
Dhatt, G. andTouzot, G. (1984)The finite element method displayed. Wiley, New York.
He, B., Busha, T., Okamoto, Y., Homma, S., Nakajima, Y. andSato, T. (1987) Electric dipole tracing in the brain by means of the boundary element method and its accuracy.IEEE Trans.,BME-34, 406–413.
Hinton, E. andOwen, D. (1984)Finite element software for plates and shells Pineridge Press.
Huebner, K. andThornton, E. (1984)The finite element method for engineers. Wiley, New York.
Meijs, J. andPeters, M. (1987) The EEG and EMG, using a model of eccentric spheres to describe the head.IEEE Trans.,BME-34, 913–920.
Nunez, P. L. (1981)Electric fields of the brain: the neurophysics of EEG. Oxford University Press, New York.
Nunez, P. L. (1987a) Removal of reference electrode and volume conduction effects by spatial deconvolution of evoked potentials using a three-concentric sphere model of the head. The London Symposium.Electroencephal. Clin. Neurophysiol.,39, Suppl., 143–148.
Nunez, P. L. (1987b) A method to estimate local skull resistance in living subjects.IEEE Trans.,BME-34, 902–904.
Nunez, P. L. (1989) Estimation of large scale neocortical source activity with EEG surface Laplacians.Brain Topography,2, 141–154.
Nunez, P. L. (1990) Localization of brain activity with electroencephalography. InAdvances in neurology, Vol. 54 Magnetoencephalography,Sato, S. (Ed.), Raven Press, 39–65.
Plonsey, R. (1969)Bioelectric phenomena. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Rush, S. andDriscoll, D. (1968) Current distribution in the brain from surface electrodes.Anesth. & Analg.,47, 717–723.
Rush, S. andDriscoll, D. (1969) EEG electrode sensitivity: an application of reciprocity.IEEE Trans.,BME-16, 15–22.
Scherg, M. andvon Cramon, D. (1985) Two bilateral sources of the late AEP as identified by spatio-temporal dipole model.Electroenceph. Clin. Neurophysiol.,62, 32–44.
Sepulveda, N., Walker, C. andHeath, R. (1983) Finite element analysis of current pathways with implanted electrodes.J. Biomed. Eng.,5, 41–48.
Sepulveda, N. (1984) Electric field distribution in three dimensional regions using the finite element method. Ph.D. Dissertation, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Yan, Y. (1988) A finite element model of the human head—surface potentials due to dipole sources in the brain. MS Thesis, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yan, Y., Nunez, P.L. & Hart, R.T. Finite-element model of the human head: scalp potentials due to dipole sources. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 29, 475–481 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02442317
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02442317