Temporal properties of inferior colliculus neurons to photonic stimulation in the cochlea.

Xiaodong Tan,Claus-Peter Richter,Suhrud Rajguru,Agnella Izzo Matic,Hunter Young,Whitney Zirkle

doi:10.14814/phy2.12491

Xiaodong Tan, Claus-Peter Richter + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.12491

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Abstract

Infrared neural stimulation (INS) may be beneficial in auditory prostheses because of its spatially selective activation of spiral ganglion neurons. However, the response properties of single auditory neurons to INS and the possible contributions of its optoacoustic effects are yet to be examined. In this study, the temporal properties of auditory neurons in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICC) of guinea pigs in response to INS were characterized. Spatial selectivity of INS was observed along the tonotopically organized ICC. Trains of laser pulses and trains of acoustic clicks were used to evoke single unit responses in ICC of normal hearing animals. In response to INS, ICC neurons showed lower limiting rates, longer latencies, and lower firing efficiencies. In deaf animals, ICC neurons could still be stimulated by INS while unresponsive to acoustic stimulation. The site and spatial selectivity of INS both likely shaped the temporal properties of ICC neurons.

Highlights

The electrode–tissue interface constitutes one bottleneck for neural prostheses
Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Physiological Society and The Physiological Society
The compound action potentials (CAPs) was used for an initial assessment of the cochlear function and for the evaluation of the cochlear damage, which occurred during the progression of the study

Summary

Introduction

The electrode–tissue interface constitutes one bottleneck for neural prostheses. Electrical current is delivered from the contacts of the interface to stimulate the neurons. In cochlear implants current spread results in the stimulation of large populations of spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) along the cochlea (Ryan et al 1990; Suesserman and Spelman 1993; McKay et al 1995; Jolly et al 1996; Matsushima et al 1997; Kral et al 1998; Liang et al 1999; Cohen et al 2004; Mens and Berenstein 2005; Micco and Richter 2006; van den Honert and Kelsall 2007; Landsberger and Srinivasan 2009; Bierer et al 2010; Srinivasan et al 2010; Landsberger et al 2012; Bingabr et al 2014).

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