While infrared neural stimulation (INS) is shown to provide an artifact-free, contact-free and spatially selective alternative to electrical methods, INS is limited by a narrow range of radiant exposures (J/cm²) which are both safe and effective for neural activation. We have shown that combining INS with a sub-threshold electrical stimulus reduces stimulation threshold radiant exposures without sacrificing spatial selectivity. This reduction in stimulation threshold associated with hybrid stimulation should provide increased safety when compared to INS alone, facilitate implantation of INS-based devices and promote the acceptance of INS in the field of electrophysiology. In this project we are seeking to better understand the combined interaction of light and electrical current in tissue as it relates to neural activation through hybrid stimulation of both ex vivo and in vivo neural systems, as well as computational modeling of the neural response to both light and current.

Duke AR, Cayce JM, Malphrus JD, Konrad P, Mahadevan-Jansen A, Jansen ED (2009) Combined optical and electrical stimulation of neural tissue in vivo. Journal of Biomedical Optics 14:060501-060503.

References

Cayce JM, Friedman R, Jansen ED, Mahadevan-Jansen A, Konrad PE – A comparison between infrared neural and electrical stimulation in the rat brain. – SPIE Photonics West, San Francisco CA (2010).

Duke A.R., Cayce J.M., Malphrus J.D., Konrad P.E., Mahadevan Jansen A., Jansen E.D. “Combined optical and electrical stimulation of neural tissue in vivo.” BiOS: Biomedical Optics, Photons and Neurons II, SPIE Photonics West, San Francisco, CA, 2010.

Duke A.R., Cayce J.M., Malphrus J.D., Konrad P.E., Mahadevan Jansen A., Jansen E.D. “Combined optical and electrical stimulation of neural tissue in vivo.” BiOS: Biomedical Optics, Photons and Neurons II, SPIE Photonics West, San Francisco, CA, 2010.

Duke A.R., Cayce J.M., Malphrus J.D., Konrad P.E., Mahadevan-Jansen, A., Jansen E.D. “Combined optical and electrical stimulation of neural tissue in vivo,” Journal of Biomedical Optics 14(06), 2009.

Duke A.R., Cayce J.M., Malphrus J.D., Konrad P.E., Mahadevan Jansen A., Jansen E.D. “Combined optical and electrical stimulation of neural tissue in vivo.” Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC, 2009.

Duke AR, Malphrus JD, Cayce JM, Jansen ED – Combined optical and electrical stimulation of neural tissue in vivo – Annual mtg of the Society for Neuroscience, Chicago IL, 485.12/GG126 (2009).

Jansen ED, Duke A, Cayce JM, Mahadevan-Jansen A, Combined electrical and optical Stimulation in the rat sciatic nerve, In: Photons and Neurons, BiOS 2009, Photonics West, San Jose CA, January 2009.

Jansen ED, Duke AR, Malphrus JD, Cayce JM, Mahadevan-Jansen A - Combined electrical and optical stimulation in the sciatic nerve. SPIE Photonics West San Jose, CA (2009).