Realistic conductivity geometry model of the human head for interpretation of neuromagnetic data
Abstract
In this paper, the computational and practical aspects of a realistically-shaped multilayer model for the conductivity geometry of the human head are discussed. A novel way to handle the numerical difficulties caused by the presence of the poorly conducting skull is presented. Using our method, both the potential on the surface of the head and the magnetic field outside the head can be computed accurately. The procedure was tested with the multilayer sphere model, for which analytical expressions are available. The method is then applied to a realistically-shaped head model, and it is numerically shown that for the computation of B, produced by cerebral current sources, it is sufficient to consider a brain-shaped homogeneous conductor only since the secondary currents on the outer interfaces give only a negligible contribution to the magnetic field outside the head. Comparisons with the sphere model are also included to pinpoint areas where the homogeneous conductor model provides essential improvements in the calculation of the magnetic field outside the head.
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Since the late 1980s, the boundary element method has been most widely used for anatomically constrained electrophysiological source imaging with EEG/MEG.
“Since the introduction to brain source imaging in late 1980s (13, 14), the BEM has been most widely used for anatomically constrained ESI with EEG/MEG.”
From Electrophysiological source imaging: A noninvasive window to brain dynamics (2018) · cites this paper as [14]
For realistic-geometry head models, numeric solutions are attainable with the boundary element method assuming isotropic conductivity or the finite element method assuming anisotropic conductivity.
“For realistic-geometry head models, numeric solutions are attainable with either the boundary element method (BEM) by assuming isotropic conductivity (13, 14) or the finite element method (FEM) models by assuming anisotropic conductivity (15).”
From Electrophysiological source imaging: A noninvasive window to brain dynamics (2018) · cites this paper as [14]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Hamalainen, M. S., & Sarvas, J.
- Affiliations
- Aalto University (FI)
- ORCID
- Sarvas, J.
- Venue
- IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering
- Published
- 1989-02
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 165-171
- ISSN
- 0018-9294 (ISSN-L)
- 1558-2531
- OpenAlex
- W1968697559
- Cited by
- 989
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 37 · 2012: 45
- FWCI
- 8.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Electrical and Bioimpedance Tomography
- Keywords
- magnetic field calculation, skull conductivity, secondary currents, scalp potentials
- MeSH terms
- Brain, Electric Conductivity, Electromagnetic Fields, Head, Humans, Models, Anatomic, Models, Biological, Electromagnetic Phenomena
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