ELECTRICAL STIMULATION FOR THE VESTIBULAR NERVE

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Our goal is to develop a viable implantable prosthesis to help patients with dizziness, balance and orientation problems to regain their mobility and active lives. To do this, the first step is to understand whether it is possible to implant a stimulating prosthesis in the vestibular end organ of the inner ear and obtain activation of the balance structures in the brain that is similar to the stimulation that occurs normally. Then, we must discover if the prosthesis can elicit behavior that similar to normal behavior. Finally, we must determine if the prosthesis can be used to substitute for natural stimulation when the vestibular end organ no longer functions normally. All of these steps, if performed in rhesus monkeys using modifications of existing human implant technology, can provide for a rapid progression toward implementation of a human prosthesis.