Electric-field modeling, simulation, and experimental analysis of multi-target temporal interference transcranial alternating current stimulation_Journal of Biomedical Engineering

Authors：

WANG Tingyu ^1,2 , CUI Chao ^1,2 , WEI Yujia ^1,2 , JI Xiang ^1,2 ,  XU Guizhi ^1,2

1. The School of Electrical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, P. R. China;
2. The State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Power Distribution Equipment and System, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, P. R. China;

Corresponding?author：

XU Guizhi, Email: gzxu@hebut.edu.cn

Keywords：

Temporal interference transcranial alternating current stimulation; Multi-target simultaneous stimulation; Finite element simulation; Stimulator design

DOI：

10.7507/1001-5515.202601056

Video：

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Temporal interference transcranial alternating current stimulation (TI-tACS) does not readily enable synchronous cross-plane modulation of multiple brain regions in three-dimensional space. To address this challenge, this study proposes a three-dimensional (3D) cross-plane multi-target simultaneous stimulation strategy based on electrode spatial topology. Without increasing the number of electrode groups, the proposed strategy enabled cooperative target formation on multiple planes. Predictable multi-target shifts were achieved by adjusting the current-amplitude ratios across channels. Simulations showed that the strategy stably generated multi-target simultaneous stimulation and exhibited good independent controllability, as evaluated by off-target displacement. A multichannel TI-tACS stimulator was developed and was validated in a saline phantom experiment, where the target formation and shift trends agreed with the simulation results. This work provides an engineering reference for electrode configuration and parameter design for 3D cross-plane multi-target neuromodulation.

Citation： WANG Tingyu, CUI Chao, WEI Yujia, JI Xiang, XU Guizhi. Electric-field modeling, simulation, and experimental analysis of multi-target temporal interference transcranial alternating current stimulation. Journal of Biomedical Engineering, 2026, 43(2): 286-292. doi: 10.7507/1001-5515.202601056 Copy

1.	周鵬, 魏晉文, 孫暢, 等. 經顱直流電刺激調控大腦認知功能的研究進展. 中國生物醫學工程學報, 2018, 37(2): 208-214.
2.	王銘琛, 張文宇, 張賢祚, 等. 經顱直流電刺激對帕金森病患者認知功能和生活質量影響的Meta分析. 中國康復理論與實踐, 2024, 30(2): 183-188.
3.	劉蒙蒙, 徐桂芝, 于洪麗, 等. 經顱直流電刺激下腦卒中患者康復期腦功能網絡特性研究. 生物醫學工程學雜志, 2021, 38(3): 498-506, 511.
4.	張大山, 史慧穎, 劉威, 等. 經顱直流電刺激在抑郁癥治療中的應用. 心理科學進展, 2015, 23(10): 1789-1798.
5.	李勇, 劉洋, 韓延柏, 等. 40 Hz經顱交流電刺激對認知功能影響研究進展. 中國神經精神疾病雜志, 2023, 49(2): 119-124.
6.	羅炯, 孫叢叢, 潘偉剛, 等. 經顱交流電刺激聯合抗抑郁藥對抑郁發作的療效及安全性. 首都醫科大學學報, 2022, 43(2): 244-248.
7.	許敏鵬, 魏澤, 穆思雨, 等. 20 Hz經顱交流電刺激對運動序列學習能力的影響. 航天醫學與醫學工程, 2019, 32(4): 333-339.
8.	Saturnino G B, Siebner H R, Thielscher A, et al. Accessibility of cortical regions to focal TES: dependence on spatial position, safety, and practical constraints. Neuroimage, 2019, 203: 116183.
9.	Grossman N, Bono D, Dedic N, et al. Noninvasive deep brain stimulation via temporally interfering electric fields. Cell, 2017, 169(6): 1029-1041.
10.	Grossman N, Okun M S, Boyden E S. Translating temporal interference brain stimulation to treat neurological and psychiatric conditions. JAMA Neurol, 2018, 75(11): 1307-1308.
11.	周婷, 郁朋, 徐雅潔. 用于無創深部腦功能調控的時間干涉電磁刺激研究進展. 生物醫學工程學雜志, 2025, 42(6): 1148-1153.
12.	孟緯鈺, 張丞, 吳昌哲, 等. 經顱電刺激用于深腦刺激的研究進展. 生物醫學工程學雜志, 2023, 40(5): 1005-1011.
13.	Rampersad S, Roig-Solvas B, Yarossi M, et al. Prospects for transcranial temporal interference stimulation in humans: a computational study. Neuroimage, 2019, 202: 116124.
14.	劉曉東, 亓朔, 劉宇, 等. 跨顱相位干涉電刺激小鼠紋狀體對運動能力的增強作用及機制. 神經解剖學雜志, 2023, 39(4): 452-460.
15.	崔超, 王亭宇, 張延清, 等. 基于時間干涉的小鼠經顱磁刺激系統構建與電生理驗證. 生物醫學工程學雜志, 2025, 42(6): 1099-1106.
16.	劉小璽, 于洪麗, 垢福帥, 等. 嚙齒類動物經顱時間干涉電刺激定量分析: 針對電極排列的仿真研究. 生物醫學工程學雜志, 2025, 42(2): 280-287.
17.	Qi S, Liu X, Yu J, et al. Temporally interfering electric fields brain stimulation in primary motor cortex of mice promotes motor skill through enhancing neuroplasticity. Brain Stimul, 2024, 17(2): 245-257.
18.	Ma R, Xia X, Zhang W, et al. High gamma and beta temporal interference stimulation in the human motor cortex improves motor functions. Front Neurosci, 2022, 15: 800436.
19.	Yang C, Xu Y, Feng X, et al. Transcranial temporal interference stimulation of the right globus pallidus in Parkinson’s disease. Mov Disord, 2025, 40(6): 1061-1069.
20.	Lamo? M, Bo?ková M, Missey F, et al. Noninvasive temporal interference stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus in Parkinson’s disease reduces beta activity. Mov Disord, 2025, 40(6): 1051-1060.
21.	Vieira P G, Krause M R, Pack C C. Temporal interference stimulation disrupts spike timing in the primate brain. Nat Commun, 2024, 15(1): 4558.
22.	Zheng S, Zhang Y, Huang K, et al. Temporal interference stimulation boosts working memory performance in the frontoparietal network. Hum Brain Mapp, 2025, 46(3): e70160.
23.	Wessel M J, Beanato E, Popa T, et al. Noninvasive theta-burst stimulation of the human striatum enhances striatal activity and motor skill learning. Nat Neurosci, 2023, 26(11): 2005-2016.
24.	Su X, Guo J, Zhou M, et al. Computational modeling of spatially selective retinal stimulation with temporally interfering electric fields. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng, 2021, 29: 418-428.
25.	Zhu K, Zhou X, Liu X, et al. The simulation and experimental validation of a novel noninvasive multi-target electrical stimulation method. Sci Rep, 2025, 15(1): 12416.
26.	Wang T, Yan L, Yang X, et al. Optimal design of array coils for multi-target adjustable electromagnetic brain stimulation system. Bioengineering, 2023, 10(5): 568.
27.	Lai M H, Yu X M, Lu Y, et al. Effectiveness and brain mechanism of multi-target transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on motor learning in stroke patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 2024, 25(1): 97.
28.	Simony E, Honey C J, Chen J, et al. Dynamic reconfiguration of the default mode network during narrative comprehension. Nat Commun, 2016, 7: 12141.
29.	Proulx C E, Hummel F C. Beyond the surface: advancing neurorehabilitation with transcranial temporal interference stimulation—clinical applications and future prospects. Neural Regen Res, 2026, 21(5): 1987-1988.
30.	Zhu X, Li Y, Zheng L, et al. Multi-point temporal interference stimulation by using each electrode to carry different frequency currents. IEEE Access, 2019, 7: 168839-168848.
31.	Deng Z D, Lisanby S H, Peterchev A V. Electric field depth–focality tradeoff in transcranial magnetic stimulation: simulation comparison of 50 coil designs. Brain Stimul, 2013, 6(1): 1-13.

1. 周鵬, 魏晉文, 孫暢, 等. 經顱直流電刺激調控大腦認知功能的研究進展. 中國生物醫學工程學報, 2018, 37(2): 208-214.
2. 王銘琛, 張文宇, 張賢祚, 等. 經顱直流電刺激對帕金森病患者認知功能和生活質量影響的Meta分析. 中國康復理論與實踐, 2024, 30(2): 183-188.
3. 劉蒙蒙, 徐桂芝, 于洪麗, 等. 經顱直流電刺激下腦卒中患者康復期腦功能網絡特性研究. 生物醫學工程學雜志, 2021, 38(3): 498-506, 511.
4. 張大山, 史慧穎, 劉威, 等. 經顱直流電刺激在抑郁癥治療中的應用. 心理科學進展, 2015, 23(10): 1789-1798.
5. 李勇, 劉洋, 韓延柏, 等. 40 Hz經顱交流電刺激對認知功能影響研究進展. 中國神經精神疾病雜志, 2023, 49(2): 119-124.
6. 羅炯, 孫叢叢, 潘偉剛, 等. 經顱交流電刺激聯合抗抑郁藥對抑郁發作的療效及安全性. 首都醫科大學學報, 2022, 43(2): 244-248.
7. 許敏鵬, 魏澤, 穆思雨, 等. 20 Hz經顱交流電刺激對運動序列學習能力的影響. 航天醫學與醫學工程, 2019, 32(4): 333-339.
8. Saturnino G B, Siebner H R, Thielscher A, et al. Accessibility of cortical regions to focal TES: dependence on spatial position, safety, and practical constraints. Neuroimage, 2019, 203: 116183.
9. Grossman N, Bono D, Dedic N, et al. Noninvasive deep brain stimulation via temporally interfering electric fields. Cell, 2017, 169(6): 1029-1041.
10. Grossman N, Okun M S, Boyden E S. Translating temporal interference brain stimulation to treat neurological and psychiatric conditions. JAMA Neurol, 2018, 75(11): 1307-1308.
11. 周婷, 郁朋, 徐雅潔. 用于無創深部腦功能調控的時間干涉電磁刺激研究進展. 生物醫學工程學雜志, 2025, 42(6): 1148-1153.
12. 孟緯鈺, 張丞, 吳昌哲, 等. 經顱電刺激用于深腦刺激的研究進展. 生物醫學工程學雜志, 2023, 40(5): 1005-1011.
13. Rampersad S, Roig-Solvas B, Yarossi M, et al. Prospects for transcranial temporal interference stimulation in humans: a computational study. Neuroimage, 2019, 202: 116124.
14. 劉曉東, 亓朔, 劉宇, 等. 跨顱相位干涉電刺激小鼠紋狀體對運動能力的增強作用及機制. 神經解剖學雜志, 2023, 39(4): 452-460.
15. 崔超, 王亭宇, 張延清, 等. 基于時間干涉的小鼠經顱磁刺激系統構建與電生理驗證. 生物醫學工程學雜志, 2025, 42(6): 1099-1106.
16. 劉小璽, 于洪麗, 垢福帥, 等. 嚙齒類動物經顱時間干涉電刺激定量分析: 針對電極排列的仿真研究. 生物醫學工程學雜志, 2025, 42(2): 280-287.
17. Qi S, Liu X, Yu J, et al. Temporally interfering electric fields brain stimulation in primary motor cortex of mice promotes motor skill through enhancing neuroplasticity. Brain Stimul, 2024, 17(2): 245-257.
18. Ma R, Xia X, Zhang W, et al. High gamma and beta temporal interference stimulation in the human motor cortex improves motor functions. Front Neurosci, 2022, 15: 800436.
19. Yang C, Xu Y, Feng X, et al. Transcranial temporal interference stimulation of the right globus pallidus in Parkinson’s disease. Mov Disord, 2025, 40(6): 1061-1069.
20. Lamo? M, Bo?ková M, Missey F, et al. Noninvasive temporal interference stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus in Parkinson’s disease reduces beta activity. Mov Disord, 2025, 40(6): 1051-1060.
21. Vieira P G, Krause M R, Pack C C. Temporal interference stimulation disrupts spike timing in the primate brain. Nat Commun, 2024, 15(1): 4558.
22. Zheng S, Zhang Y, Huang K, et al. Temporal interference stimulation boosts working memory performance in the frontoparietal network. Hum Brain Mapp, 2025, 46(3): e70160.
23. Wessel M J, Beanato E, Popa T, et al. Noninvasive theta-burst stimulation of the human striatum enhances striatal activity and motor skill learning. Nat Neurosci, 2023, 26(11): 2005-2016.
24. Su X, Guo J, Zhou M, et al. Computational modeling of spatially selective retinal stimulation with temporally interfering electric fields. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng, 2021, 29: 418-428.
25. Zhu K, Zhou X, Liu X, et al. The simulation and experimental validation of a novel noninvasive multi-target electrical stimulation method. Sci Rep, 2025, 15(1): 12416.
26. Wang T, Yan L, Yang X, et al. Optimal design of array coils for multi-target adjustable electromagnetic brain stimulation system. Bioengineering, 2023, 10(5): 568.
27. Lai M H, Yu X M, Lu Y, et al. Effectiveness and brain mechanism of multi-target transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on motor learning in stroke patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 2024, 25(1): 97.
28. Simony E, Honey C J, Chen J, et al. Dynamic reconfiguration of the default mode network during narrative comprehension. Nat Commun, 2016, 7: 12141.
29. Proulx C E, Hummel F C. Beyond the surface: advancing neurorehabilitation with transcranial temporal interference stimulation—clinical applications and future prospects. Neural Regen Res, 2026, 21(5): 1987-1988.
30. Zhu X, Li Y, Zheng L, et al. Multi-point temporal interference stimulation by using each electrode to carry different frequency currents. IEEE Access, 2019, 7: 168839-168848.
31. Deng Z D, Lisanby S H, Peterchev A V. Electric field depth–focality tradeoff in transcranial magnetic stimulation: simulation comparison of 50 coil designs. Brain Stimul, 2013, 6(1): 1-13.

Journal of Biomedical Engineering

Electric-field modeling, simulation, and experimental analysis of multi-target temporal interference transcranial alternating current stimulation

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