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1 November 2011 Spatial extent of cochlear infrared neural stimulation determined by tone-on-light masking
Agnella I. Matic, Claus-Peter Richter, Joseph T. Walsh Jr.
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Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 16, Issue 11, 118002 (November 2011). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3655590
Abstract
Artificial neural stimulation is widely used in clinic, rehabilitation, and research. One of the limitations of electrical stimulation is the current spread in tissue. Recently, pulsed mid-infrared laser stimulation of nerves has been investigated as an alternative stimulation method. The likely benefits of infrared neural stimulation (INS) include spatial selectivity of stimulation, noncontact mode of operation, and the lack of stimulation artifact in simultaneous electrical recordings. The hypothesis for this study is that INS of the cochlear spiral ganglion at low pulse energy is as spatially selective as low-level tonal stimulation of the cochlea. Spatial selectivity was measured using a masking method. An optical pulse with fixed optical parameters was delivered through a 200-μm diameter optical fiber. An acoustic tone, variable in frequency and level, was presented simultaneously with the optical pulse. Tone-on-light masking in gerbils revealed tuning curves with best frequencies between 5.3 and 11.4 kHz. The width of the tone-on-light tuning curves was similar to the width of tone-on-tone tuning curves. The results indicate that the spatial area of INS in the gerbil cochlea is similar to the cochlear area excited by a low level acoustic tone, showing promising results for future use of INS in implantable cochlear prostheses.
© 2011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) 1083-3668/2011/16(11)/118002/8/$25.00
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Agnella I. Matic, Claus-Peter Richter, and Joseph T. Walsh Jr. "Spatial extent of cochlear infrared neural stimulation determined by tone-on-light masking," Journal of Biomedical Optics 16(11), 118002 (1 November 2011). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3655590
Published: 1 November 2011
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KEYWORDS
Optical fibers
Acoustics
Infrared radiation
Neurons
Tissue optics
Nerve
Pulsed laser operation
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