TY - JOUR
T1 - Selectivity of neural stimulation in the auditory system
T2 - A comparison of optic and electric stimuli
AU - Izzo, Agnella D.
AU - Suh, Eul
AU - Pathria, Jyoti
AU - Walsh, Joseph T.
AU - Whitlon, Donna S.
AU - Richter, Claus Peter
PY - 2007/3
Y1 - 2007/3
N2 - Pulsed, mid-infrared lasers were recently investigated as a method to stimulate neural activity. There are significant benefits of optically stimulating nerves over electrically stimulating, in particular the application of more spatially confined neural stimulation. We report results from experiments in which the gerbil auditory system was stimulated by optical radiation, acoustic tones, or electric current. Immunohistochemical staining for the protein c-FOS revealed the spread of excitation. We demonstrate a spatially selective activation of neurons using a laser; only neurons in the direct optical path are stimulated. This pattern of c-FOS labeling is in contrast to that after electrical stimulation. Electrical stimulation leads to a large, more spatially extended population of labeled, activated neurons. In the auditory system, optical stimulation of nerves could have a significant impact on the performance of cochlear implants, which can be limited by the electric current spread.
AB - Pulsed, mid-infrared lasers were recently investigated as a method to stimulate neural activity. There are significant benefits of optically stimulating nerves over electrically stimulating, in particular the application of more spatially confined neural stimulation. We report results from experiments in which the gerbil auditory system was stimulated by optical radiation, acoustic tones, or electric current. Immunohistochemical staining for the protein c-FOS revealed the spread of excitation. We demonstrate a spatially selective activation of neurons using a laser; only neurons in the direct optical path are stimulated. This pattern of c-FOS labeling is in contrast to that after electrical stimulation. Electrical stimulation leads to a large, more spatially extended population of labeled, activated neurons. In the auditory system, optical stimulation of nerves could have a significant impact on the performance of cochlear implants, which can be limited by the electric current spread.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34249335289&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34249335289&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1117/1.2714296
DO - 10.1117/1.2714296
M3 - Article
C2 - 17477715
AN - SCOPUS:34249335289
VL - 12
JO - Journal of Biomedical Optics
JF - Journal of Biomedical Optics
SN - 1083-3668
IS - 2
M1 - 021008
ER -