Forward Modeling of EEG Signals: CST Studio Suite versus COMSOL Multiphysics
Presenting author:
Here we compare CST Studio Suite and COMSOL Multiphysics feasibility for forward modeling of brain waves. Considering Poisson’s equation and source currents located in the volume of rat’s brain, electrical potentials on the surface of the scalp are computed.
In [1], an analytical solution is compared with a numerical finite-element approach and previously published data. Here, the analysis is replicated using commercial electromagnetic software CST Studio Suite and COMSOL Multiphysics (using finite element techniques in both tools) for four-sphere head model and simulation setup identical with [1].
Comparing the results of the reference (analytical) solution [1] with the ones from both software packages, we observe the following maximum relative error:
• 0.92% for COMSOL Multiphysics results.
• 0.32% for CST Studio Suite results.
Since both packages have their own meshing tools, a similar number of mesh elements was used for the evaluation of the CPU-time (Intel i7-7700HQ CPU 2.8 GHz and 32 GB RAM):
• 00:09:14 for the computation in COMSOL Multiphysics (1 005 247 tetrahedrals).
• 00:04:05 for the computation in CST Studio Suite (1 004 177 tetrahedrals).
These results can be used as a guideline for researchers who need to develop complex numerical models of electric field propagation in the brain with specific parameters, guaranteed accuracy and additional pre-/post-processing functions.
In [1], an analytical solution is compared with a numerical finite-element approach and previously published data. Here, the analysis is replicated using commercial electromagnetic software CST Studio Suite and COMSOL Multiphysics (using finite element techniques in both tools) for four-sphere head model and simulation setup identical with [1].
Comparing the results of the reference (analytical) solution [1] with the ones from both software packages, we observe the following maximum relative error:
• 0.92% for COMSOL Multiphysics results.
• 0.32% for CST Studio Suite results.
Since both packages have their own meshing tools, a similar number of mesh elements was used for the evaluation of the CPU-time (Intel i7-7700HQ CPU 2.8 GHz and 32 GB RAM):
• 00:09:14 for the computation in COMSOL Multiphysics (1 005 247 tetrahedrals).
• 00:04:05 for the computation in CST Studio Suite (1 004 177 tetrahedrals).
These results can be used as a guideline for researchers who need to develop complex numerical models of electric field propagation in the brain with specific parameters, guaranteed accuracy and additional pre-/post-processing functions.