# POSITION¶

Describes a coil position for a TMS simulation

## Initialization¶

• Python

from simnibs import sim_struct
s = sim_struct.SESSION()


• MATLAB

s = sim_struct('SESSION');
s.poslist{1} = sim_struct('TMSLIST');
s.poslist{1}.pos;


## Attributes¶

• centre: list/array of floats or string/character array (Python/MATLAB)

• Description: Center of the coil. Can either be a set of coordinates in the head model or the name of an EEG 10-10 electrode position

• Example Python/MATLAB

Center the coil in Cz

coil.centre = 'Cz'


Center the coil using the coordinates

coil.centre = [-1.2, -15.8, 116.0]


• pos_ydir: list/array of floats or string/character array (Python/MATLAB)

• Description: Position along the coil’s y axis. Can either be a set of coordinates in the head model or the name of an EEG 10-10 electrode position. The coil y axis is a prolongation of the handle (see here for how SimNIBS defines the coil axes).

• Example: Python/MATLAB

Set-up a coil centered in C3 and pointing posteriorly

pos.centre = 'C3'
pos.pos_ydir = 'CP3'


• distance: float, optional

• Description: Distance from the coil to the scalp, in mm.

• Default: 4mm

• Note: Ignored if matsimnibs is set.

• didt: float, optional

• Description: Rate of change of current in the coil, in A/s. In some stimulators, this value is given in the screen short after a pulse is give.

• Default: 1e6 A/s

• matsimnibs: 4x4 list/array of floats (Python/MATLAB)

• Description: Affine transformation matrix defining coil position and directions. The matrix has the form

$\begin{split}\left[\begin{array}{cccc} p^x_1 & p^y_1 & p^z_1 & p^c_1\\ p^x_2 & p^y_2 & p^z_2 & p^c_3\\ p^x_3 & p^y_3 & p^z_3 & p^c_2\\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{array}\right].\end{split}$

Where $$\mathbf{p}^x$$, $$\mathbf{p}^y$$ and $$\mathbf{p}^z$$ are the x, y and z coil axes (see here for how SimNIBS defines the coil axes). Those should be mutually orthogonal and span a right-handed coordinate system. $$\mathbf{p}^c$$ is the center of the coil. More about coordinates in SimNIBS.

• note: Be careful when setting up simulations this way. If the directions are set wrongly, the coil might end up inside the head.

## Examples¶

• Set up a simulation with a coil centered in C3, pointing posteriorly (towards CP3), with a distance of 5mm from the cortex and a $$dI/dt = 20 \times 10^6$$ A/s.

Python/MATLAB

pos.centre = 'C3'
pos.pos_ydir = 'CP3'
pos.distance = 5
pos.didt = 20e6


• Run a simulation with the coil placed at (-1.2, -15.8, 120.0), pointing anteriorly and facing downwards.

By default, in the head models +y indicates the anterior direction. Therefore, the coil y axis is to be aligned with the model’s. Also by default, +z indicats the superior directio. Therefore, given the definitions, the coil z axis need to point towards the -z direction. Finally, for the coordinates to be right-handed $$\mathbf{p}^x = \mathbf{p}^y \times \mathbf{p}^z$$.

• Python

pos.matsimnibs = [
[-1, 0, 0, -1.2],
[0, 1, 0, -15.8],
[0, 0, -1, 120.0],
[0, 0, 0, 1]]


• MATLAB

pos.matsimnibs = [...
-1 0 0 -1.2;...
0 1 0 -15.8;...
0 0 -1 120.0;...
0 0 0 1];