Characterizing Millimeter-Sized Coils For Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Of Small Animals: Comparison Of Magnetic Cores

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is used for neuromodulation of the human brain. However, the technique is not widely used for small animal models. Here, we propose millimeter-sized coils for brain stimulation of small animals. To estimate the electric field distributions of TMS coils, we performed magnetic flux density measurements and computer simulation using a simplified model combining a mouse head and a TMS coil. Our results indicate the millimeter-sized TMS coils produce electrical field with sufficient magnitude to activate the cortex under the skull in vivo. (C) 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.