Group-Level and Personalized Optimization for the Insula and Hippocampus Focal Electric Field in Transcranial Temporal Interferential Stimulation: A Computational Study

TL;DR

This computational study compares individualized and group-level electrode optimization for transcranial temporal interference stimulation targeting the insula and hippocampus, revealing that group-level approaches are effective for superficial regions but personalized tuning is better for deeper targets.

Contribution

It demonstrates that group-level electrode montages can reliably target superficial brain regions, reducing modeling complexity, while personalized optimization remains necessary for deeper structures.

Findings

Group-level optimization achieves focality comparable to individual optimization for the insula.

Optimal montages vary with target depth, favoring group-level methods for superficial targets.

Stable group-level results require about 20 models for the insula and 9 for the hippocampus.

Abstract

This study evaluated transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) for focal targeting of the insula and hippocampus, which are clinically relevant yet anatomically difficult to stimulate. Individualized and group-level electrode optimizations were compared to determine whether generalized montages can provide reliable targeting with reduced modeling demands. Sixty high-resolution head models (30 individuals and their mirrored counterparts) were constructed from T1- and T2-weighted MRI. Electric fields (EFs) were computed using the scalar-potential finite-difference method. Electrode montages and current ratios were optimized to minimize the root-mean-square error between simulated and target EF envelope (EFE) distributions, with a threshold of 0.3 V/m. Subsampling analysis was performed to estimate the number of models required for stable group-level outcomes. For the insula, a montage combining T7-P7 and Fp1-Fp2 achieved the highest focality, comparable to individualized results with reduced variability. For the hippocampus, the F7-T7 and T8-P8 montage gave the best group-level focality, though individualized optimization improved off-target suppression. Stable group-level patterns were obtained using 20 models for the insula and 9 for the hippocampus. Optimal tTIS montages depend on target depth. Group-level optimization suffices for cortical regions like the insula, whereas individualized tuning remains preferable for deeper targets such as the hippocampus.