There is a fundamental gap in understanding how to design penetrating microstimulation for neuroprostheses, particularly with consideration to the tissue response to device insertion and/or the application of the electrical stimulation. Our long-term goal is to develop multi-channel microstimulation of central nervous tissue for clinical therapy. The overall objective of the proposed research is to identify the optimal stimulation parameters for a chronically-implanted microstimulation device. In particular, our objective focuses on the effects of repeated stimulation and the reactive tissue response on the efficacy of stimulation-driven activity. Our central hypothesis is that multi-channel microstimulation will be a more effective treatment than low-channel count macrostimulation. The rationale that underlies the proposed research is that, once the optimal stimulation parameters are known for a given level of tissue response, microstimulation-based devices can be designed and tested for chronic disease treatment. Thus, the proposed research is relevant to the translational focus of the NIH's mission and will potentially help to reduce the burdens of human disability. This hypothesis will be tested by pursuing two specific aims: first we will study how different microstimulation parameters affect the psychophysical threshold and the dynamic range for sensation. Psychophysical experiments will be performed using multi-channel cortical implants in the auditory cortex of rats. Second, we will investigate is the effect of the device-tissue interfacial quality on the psychophysical threshold. Chronic implantation of neural implants is followed by a reactive tissue response that both functionally isolates the electrode from the tissue as well as triggers neuronal apoptosis and migration. We will measure these functional changes and determine their role in modulating the efficacy of a cortical auditory prosthesis. The approach is innovative because of the combination of simultaneous behavioral, electrochemical and electrophysiological assessment. The proposed research is significant because it will establish feasibility and practicality for utilizing microstimulation to develop therapies. These therapies will enable neuroprosthetic development for many potential applications of microstimulation.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed studies are in the area of microstimulation for neuroprostheses, which has potential applications in many human diseases or injuries. Our findings will provide fundamental data enabling design of efficacious neuroprostheses. Thus, the proposed research is relevant to the translational focus of the NIH's mission and will potentially help to reduce the burdens of human disability.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03DC009339-03
Application #
8096569
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDC1-SRB-R (38))
Program Officer
Miller, Roger
Project Start
2009-07-15
Project End
2013-06-30
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2013-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$138,006
Indirect Cost
Name
Purdue University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
072051394
City
West Lafayette
State
IN
Country
United States
Zip Code
47907
Rajan, Alexander T; Boback, Jessica L; Dammann, John F et al. (2015) The effects of chronic intracortical microstimulation on neural tissue and fine motor behavior. J Neural Eng 12:066018
Sommakia, Salah; Lee, Heui C; Gaire, Janak et al. (2014) Materials approaches for modulating neural tissue responses to implanted microelectrodes through mechanical and biochemical means. Curr Opin Solid State Mater Sci 18:319-328
Woolley, Andrew J; Desai, Himanshi A; Otto, Kevin J (2013) Chronic intracortical microelectrode arrays induce non-uniform, depth-related tissue responses. J Neural Eng 10:026007
Regele, Oliver B; Koivuniemi, Andrew S; Otto, Kevin J (2013) Constant RMS versus constant peak modulation for the perceptual equivalence of sinusoidal amplitude modulated signals. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2013:3115-8
Koivuniemi, Andrew S; Otto, Kevin J (2012) The depth, waveform and pulse rate for electrical microstimulation of the auditory cortex. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2012:2489-92
Wilks, Seth J; Richner, Tom J; Brodnick, Sarah K et al. (2012) Voltage biasing, cyclic voltammetry, & electrical impedance spectroscopy for neural interfaces. J Vis Exp :
Woolley, Andrew J; Desai, Himanshi A; Steckbeck, Mitchell A et al. (2011) In situ characterization of the brain-microdevice interface using device-capture histology. J Neurosci Methods 201:67-77
Koivuniemi, Andrew S; Regele, Oliver B; Brenner, Jessica H et al. (2011) Rat behavioral model for high-throughput parametric studies of intracortical microstimulation. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2011:7541-4
McCarthy, P T; Rao, M P; Otto, K J (2011) Simultaneous recording of rat auditory cortex and thalamus via a titanium-based, microfabricated, microelectrode device. J Neural Eng 8:046007
Wilks, Seth J; Woolley, Andrew J; Ouyang, Liangqi et al. (2011) In vivo polymerization of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) in rodent cerebral cortex. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2011:5412-5

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