Comparison of temporal properties of auditory single units in response to cochlear infrared laser stimulation recorded with multi-channel and single tungsten electrodes

Xiaodong Tan, Nan Xia, Hunter Young, Claus Peter Richter

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Auditory prostheses may benefit from Infrared Neural Stimulation (INS) because optical stimulation allows for spatially selective activation of neuron populations. Selective activation of neurons in the cochlear spiral ganglion can be determined in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICC) because the tonotopic organization of frequencies in the cochlea is maintained throughout the auditory pathway. The activation profile of INS is well represented in the ICC by multichannel electrodes (MCEs). To characterize single unit properties in response to INS, however, single tungsten electrodes (STEs) should be used because of its better signal-to-noise ratio. In this study, we compared the temporal properties of ICC single units recorded with MCEs and STEs in order to characterize the response properties of single auditory neurons in response to INS in guinea pigs. The length along the cochlea stimulated with infrared radiation corresponded to a frequency range of about 0.6 octaves, similar to that recorded with STEs. The temporal properties of single units recorded with MCEs showed higher maximum rates, shorter latencies, and higher firing efficiencies compared to those recorded with STEs. When the preset amplitude threshold for triggering MCE recordings was raised to twice over the noise level, the temporal properties of the single units became similar to those obtained with STEs. Undistinguishable neural activities from multiple sources in MCE recordings could be responsible for the response property difference between MCEs and STEs. Thus, caution should be taken in single unit recordings with MCEs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationPhotonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics XI
EditorsHyun Wook Kang, Justus F. Ilgner, Melissa C. Skala, Laura Marcu, Haishan Zeng, Mark W. Dewhirst, Kenton W. Gregory, Andreas Mandelis, Bernard Choi, Brian Jet-Fei Wong, Claus-Peter Richter, Guillermo J. Tearney, Alfred Nuttal, Nikiforos Kollias
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781628413939
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
EventPhotonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics XI - San Francisco, United States
Duration: Feb 7 2015Feb 8 2015

Publication series

NameProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume9303
ISSN (Print)1605-7422

Other

OtherPhotonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics XI
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period2/7/152/8/15

Keywords

  • Hearing
  • Inferior colliculus
  • Infrared neural stimulation
  • Multichannel electrodes
  • Tungsten electrodes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Biomaterials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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