Combined optical and electrical stimulation of neural tissue in vivo

Low-intensity, pulsed infrared light provides a novel nerve stimulation modality that avoids the limitations of traditional electrical methods such as necessity of contact, presence of a stimulation artifact, and relatively poor spatial precision. Infrared neural stimulation (INS) is, however, limit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biomedical optics 2009-11, Vol.14 (6), p.060501-060501
Main Authors: Duke, Austin R, Cayce, Jonathan M, Malphrus, Jonathan D, Konrad, Peter, Mahadevan-Jansen, Anita, Jansen, E Duco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Electric Stimulation - methods
Infrared Rays
JBO Letters
Male
Models, Neurological
Nerve Tissue - physiology
Nerve Tissue - radiation effects
Photic Stimulation - methods
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Sciatic Nerve - physiology
Sciatic Nerve - radiation effects
Sensory Thresholds - physiology
Sensory Thresholds - radiation effects
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Summary:Low-intensity, pulsed infrared light provides a novel nerve stimulation modality that avoids the limitations of traditional electrical methods such as necessity of contact, presence of a stimulation artifact, and relatively poor spatial precision. Infrared neural stimulation (INS) is, however, limited by a 2:1 ratio of threshold radiant exposures for damage to that for stimulation. We have shown that this ratio is increased to nearly 6:1 by combining the infrared pulse with a subthreshold electrical stimulus. Our results indicate a nonlinear relationship between the subthreshold depolarizing electrical stimulus and additional optical energy required to reach stimulation threshold. The change in optical threshold decreases linearly as the delay between the electrical and optical pulses is increased. We have shown that the high spatial precision of INS is maintained for this combined stimulation modality. Results of this study will facilitate the development of applications for infrared neural stimulation, as well as target the efforts to uncover the mechanism by which infrared light activates neural tissue.
ISSN:1083-3668
1560-2281
DOI:10.1117/1.3257230