Optimal Stimulation to Improve Neural Activation

Photo credit: Bionics Institute

A basic limitation of cochlear implants is the spread of electrical current through the fluid-filled inner ear, which means adjacent electrodes stimulate overlapping populations of auditory nerve fibres.

At the Bionics Institute in Victoria, researchers have demonstrated that combining electrical stimulation with optical stimulation markedly improves the spatial and temporal precision of neural activation.

The team is also exploring the use of optogenetics to introduce light sensitive ion channels into neural membranes to enable a wider suite of bionic treatments.

Read more via the Bionics Institute website.