Computation of Activating Fields for Approximation of the Orientation-Specific Neural Response to Electrical Stimulation

Computational methods of determining the response of neural tissue to electrical stimulation have demonstrated value for the development of novel devices and the programming of neuromodulation therapies. Detailed biophysical models are excessively computationally intensive for many applications; simple metrics to approximate activation can speed up progress in this area. The activating function provides such a useful metric. However, this measure, defined for a specific axon orientation, is not immediately applicable to computed electric fields to assess their effects. We demonstrate a method for computation of the activating function generalized to a field in order to allow rapid computation of the effects of stimulation on neural tissue while preserving information on axon orientation. Clinical Relevance— This demonstrates a useful method of approximating the effect of electrical stimulation on nervous tissue for the development of devices and the optimization of parameters for electrical neuromodulation