Limits of Multi-Tetrode Intracortical Microstimulation

描述(申请人提供)：尚未完全了解初级听觉皮质微刺激的空间和时间模式如何影响知觉质量。这项应用的主要目的是使用大鼠的行为分析，通过植入耳聋大鼠初级听觉皮质的多个四极管阵列，来研究皮质内微刺激(ICMS)的空间模式所诱发的感觉知觉的极限。这项应用将确定听觉皮质的单极和三极微刺激之间是否存在感知差异，并通过行为检查四极内(35-50微米)和四极之间(100-250微米)的ICMS的质量。行为条件化动物的使用有可能成为由多部位模式微刺激引起的感知质量的一个强有力的指示。通过这一应用确定的电诱发听觉感知的空间极限将有助于未来皮质神经假体的设计。这项工作对开发和设计一种电脑机接口具有潜在的重要意义，该接口能够以一种人工唤起听觉感知的方式刺激听觉皮质。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): It is not fully understood how spatial and temporal patterns of microstimulation of primary auditory cortex affect the quality of percept. The principle goal of this application is to use behavioral assays in rats to investigate the limits of sensory perceptions evoked by spatial patterns of intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) through multiple tetrode arrays implanted in primary auditory cortex of deafened rat. This application will determine if perceptual differences exist between monopolar and tripolar microstimulation of auditory cortex, and examine the quality of ICMS within (35 - 50 micrometers) and between (100 - 250 micrometers) tetrodes, through behavior. The use of behaviorally conditioned animals has the potential to be a strong indication of the quality of percept elicited by multi-site patterned microstimulation. The spatial limits of electrically-evoked auditory percepts determined through this application will aid in the design of future cortical neuroprosthetics. This work is of potentially great relevance in the development and design of an electrical brain-machine interface capable of stimulating auditory cortex in such a manner as to artificially evoke auditory perceptions.