Transcranial Direct brain stimulation (tDCS) is commonly used in order to modulate cortical networks activity during physiological processes through the application of weak electrical fields with scalp electrodes. Cathodal stimulation has been shown to decrease brain excitability in the context of epilepsy, with variable success. However, the cellular mechanisms responsible for the acute and the long-lasting effect of tDCS remain elusive. Using a novel approach of computational modeling that combines detailed but functionally integrated neurons we built a physiologically-based thalamocortical column. This model comprises 10,000 individual neurons made of pyramidal cells, and 3 types of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) -ergic cells (VIP, PV, and SST) respecting the anatomy, layers, projection, connectivity and neurites orientation. Simulating realistic electric fields in term of intensity, main results showed that 1) tDCS effects are best explained by modulation of the presynaptic probability of release 2) tDCS affects the dynamic of cortical network only if a sufficient number of neurons are modulated 3)VIP GABAergic interneurons of the superficial layer of the cortex are especially affected by tDCS 4) Long lasting effect depends on glutamatergic synaptic plasticity.

中文翻译：

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模拟tDCS对癫痫活动的急性和持久作用。

经颅直接脑刺激（tDCS）通常用于通过在头皮电极上施加弱电场来调节生理过程中皮质网络的活动。已有证据表明，在癫痫的情况下，阴极刺激会降低大脑的兴奋性，并取得不同的成功。但是，负责tDCS的急性和长期作用的细胞机制仍然难以捉摸。使用结合了详细但功能完整的神经元的新型计算建模方法，我们构建了基于生理的丘脑皮质柱。该模型包含10,000个由锥体细胞组成的单个神经元，以及3种类型的伽马氨基丁酸（GABA）能量细胞（VIP，PV和SST），它们在解剖学，层，投影，连通性和神经突方向上均得到尊重。