Comparison of DC and RF for lesioning white and grey matter

Abstract

The morphology of brain lesions produced by anodal direct current and by radio frequency current was compared. The lesions were placed within or adjacent to number of myelinated fiber tracts of the forebrain and brain stem using a range of common current parameters. It was found that with the parameters used anodal current was relatively ineffective for destroying fiber tracts while radio frequency was equally effective for fiber tracts and cellular areas. Thus, differential applicabilities of these two lesion methods are indicated. Additional observations were made on the effect of cathode location upon the shape of anodal direct current lesions. There was a tendency for the anodal lesion to be drawn in the direction of the cathode but the effect was small and inconsistent and therefore its usefulness for controlling the shapes of anodal lesions seems minimal.