scholarly journals Current Stimulation of the Midbrain Nucleus in Pigeons for Avian Flight Control

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 788
Author(s):  
Jung-Woo Jang ◽  
Changhoon Baek ◽  
Sunhyo Kim ◽  
Tae-Kyeong Lee ◽  
Gwang-Jin Choi ◽  
...  

A number of research attempts to understand and modulate sensory and motor skills that are beyond the capability of humans have been underway. They have mainly been expounded in rodent models, where numerous reports of controlling movement to reach target locations by brain stimulation have been achieved. However, in the case of birds, although basic research on movement control has been conducted, the brain nuclei that are triggering these movements have yet to be established. In order to fully control flight navigation in birds, the basic central nervous system involved in flight behavior should be understood comprehensively, and functional maps of the birds’ brains to study the possibility of flight control need to be clarified. Here, we established a stable stereotactic surgery to implant multi-wire electrode arrays and electrically stimulated several nuclei of the pigeon’s brain. A multi-channel electrode array and a wireless stimulation system were implanted in thirteen pigeons. The pigeons' flight trajectories on electrical stimulation of the cerebral nuclei were monitored and analyzed by a 3D motion tracking program to evaluate the behavioral change, and the exact stimulation site in the brain was confirmed by the postmortem histological examination. Among them, five pigeons were able to induce right and left body turns by stimulating the nuclei of the tractus occipito-mesencephalicus (OM), nucleus taeniae (TN), or nucleus rotundus (RT); the nuclei of tractus septo-mesencephalicus (TSM) or archistriatum ventrale (AV) were stimulated to induce flight aviation for flapping and take-off with five pigeons.

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-Wook Park ◽  
Amelia A. Schendel ◽  
Solomon Mikael ◽  
Sarah K. Brodnick ◽  
Thomas J. Richner ◽  
...  

Abstract Neural micro-electrode arrays that are transparent over a broad wavelength spectrum from ultraviolet to infrared could allow for simultaneous electrophysiology and optical imaging, as well as optogenetic modulation of the underlying brain tissue. The long-term biocompatibility and reliability of neural micro-electrodes also require their mechanical flexibility and compliance with soft tissues. Here we present a graphene-based, carbon-layered electrode array (CLEAR) device, which can be implanted on the brain surface in rodents for high-resolution neurophysiological recording. We characterize optical transparency of the device at >90% transmission over the ultraviolet to infrared spectrum and demonstrate its utility through optical interface experiments that use this broad spectrum transparency. These include optogenetic activation of focal cortical areas directly beneath electrodes, in vivo imaging of the cortical vasculature via fluorescence microscopy and 3D optical coherence tomography. This study demonstrates an array of interfacing abilities of the CLEAR device and its utility for neural applications.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee R. Bartel ◽  
Robert Chen ◽  
Claude Alain ◽  
Bernhard Ross

Abstract: This paper addresses the importance of steady state brain oscillation for brain connectivity and cognition. Given that a healthy brain maintains particular levels of oscillatory activity, it argues that disturbances or dysrhythmias of this oscillatory activity can be implicated in common health conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s Disease, pain, and depression. Literature is reviewed that shows that electric stimulation of the brain can contribute to regulation of neural oscillatory activity and the alleviation of related health conditions. It is then argued that specific frequencies of sound in their vibratory nature can serve as a means to brain stimulation through auditory and vibrotactile means and as such can contribute to regulation of oscillatory activity. The frequencies employed and found effective in electric stimulation are reviewed with the intent of guiding the selection of sound frequencies for vibroacoustic stimulation in the treatment of AD, PD, Pain, and depression.


1993 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giancarlo Barolat ◽  
Fulvio Massaro ◽  
Jiping He ◽  
Sergio Zeme ◽  
Beth Ketcik

✓ A database is presented of sensory responses to electrical stimulation of the dorsal neural structures at various spine levels in 106 subjects subjected to epidural spinal cord stimulation. All patients were implanted for chronic pain management and were able to perceive stimulation in the area of pain. All patients entered in this study were able to reliably report their stimulation pattern. Several patients were implanted with more than one electrode array. The electrode arrays were placed in the dorsal epidural space at levels between C-1 and L-1. The structures that were likely involved include the dorsal roots, dorsal root entry zone, dorsal horn, and dorsal columns. At the present time, exact characterization of the structure being stimulated is possible only in limited instances. Various body areas are presented with the correspondent spine levels where implanted electrodes generate paresthesias. Areas that are relatively easy targets for stimulation are the median aspect of the hand, the abdominal wall, the anterior aspect of the thigh, and the foot. Some areas are particularly difficult to cover with stimulation-induced paresthesias; these include the C-2 distribution, the neck, the low back, and the perineum.


Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 778
Author(s):  
Soowon Shin ◽  
Yoonhee Ha ◽  
Gwangjin Choi ◽  
Junewoo Hyun ◽  
Sangwoo Kim ◽  
...  

(1) Background: In this study, we introduce a manufacturable 32-channel cochlear electrode array. In contrast to conventional cochlear electrode arrays manufactured by manual processes that consist of electrode-wire welding, the placement of each electrode, and silicone molding over wired structures, the proposed cochlear electrode array is manufactured by semi-automated laser micro-structuring and a mass-produced layer-by-layer silicone deposition scheme similar to the semiconductor fabrication process. (2) Methods: The proposed 32-channel electrode array has 32 electrode contacts with a length of 24 mm and 0.75 mm spacing between contacts. The width of the electrode array is 0.45 mm at its apex and 0.8 mm at its base, and it has a three-layered arrangement consisting of a 32-channel electrode layer and two 16-lead wire layers. To assess its feasibility, we conducted an electrochemical evaluation, stiffness measurements, and insertion force measurements. (3) Results: The electrochemical impedance and charge storage capacity are 3.11 ± 0.89 kOhm at 1 kHz and 5.09 mC/cm2, respectively. The V/H ratio, which indicates how large the vertical stiffness is compared to the horizontal stiffness, is 1.26. The insertion force is 17.4 mN at 8 mm from the round window, and the maximum extraction force is 61.4 mN. (4) Conclusions: The results of the preliminary feasibility assessment of the proposed 32-channel cochlear electrode array are presented. After further assessments are performed, a 32-channel cochlear implant system consisting of the proposed 32-channel electrode array, 32-channel neural stimulation and recording IC, titanium-based hermetic package, and sound processor with wireless power and signal transmission coil will be completed.


Author(s):  
Julia P. Slopsema ◽  
Robert Cass ◽  
Mark Hjelle ◽  
Matthew D. Johnson

The degree to which deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy can effectively treat various brain disorders depends on how well one can selectively stimulate one or more axonal pathways within the brain. There is rapidly growing clinical interest in DBS lead implant designs with electrode arrangements that can better target axonal pathways of interest, especially in cases where the optimal target is immediately adjacent to a pathway that when stimulated will elicit adverse side effects. Numerical modeling has demonstrated that DBS leads with four radially segmented electrodes provide the best balance of directional targeting capability while minimizing the overall number of electrode contacts [1]. Here, we present a novel 4×4 DBS lead (16-channel electrode array) with the same form factor and materials as current 4 or 8-channel FDA-approved DBS leads. Electrode impedance spectroscopy was performed for three of these 4×4 DBS leads showing reliable electrode impedances before and after implantation within the brain.


1977 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 366-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Jann Brown ◽  
Thomas L. Babb ◽  
Henry V. Soper ◽  
Jeffrey P. Lieb ◽  
Carlos A. Ottino ◽  
...  

✓ Light and electron microscopic analyses were carried out on the stimulated and unstimulated paravermal cortices of six rhesus monkeys that had electrodes implanted on their cerebella for 2 months. The electrodes and the stimulation regime (10 p.p.s.: 8 min on, 8 min off) were similar to those used to stimulate the human cerebellum for treatment of certain neurological disorders. Mere presence of the electrode array in the posterior fossa for 2 months resulted in some meningeal thickening, attenuation of the molecular layer, and loss of Purkinje cells immediately beneath the electrode array. There was no evidence of scarring. After 205 hours of stimulation (7.38 × 106 pulses) over 18 days, a charge of 0.5 µC/ph or estimated charge density of 7.4 µC/sq cm/ph resulted in no damage to the cerebellum attributable to electrical stimulation per se. Such a charge/phase is about five times the threshold for evocation of cerebellar efferent activity, and might be considered “safe” for stimulation of human cerebellum. Charge density/phase and charge/phase were directly related to increased cerebellar injury in the six other cerebellar cortices stimulated. Leptomeningeal thickening increased with increased charge density. Injury included severe molecular layer attenuation, ongoing destruction of Purkinje cells, gliosis, ongoing degeneration of myelinated axons, collagen intrusion, and increased levels of local polysaccharides. In all cases, even with damage that destroyed all conducting elements beneath the electrodes, there was no damage further than 1 to 2 mm from the edges of the electrode arrays.


2009 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 1671-1678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiangang Du ◽  
Ingmar H. Riedel-Kruse ◽  
Janna C. Nawroth ◽  
Michael L. Roukes ◽  
Gilles Laurent ◽  
...  

Microelectrode array recordings of neuronal activity present significant opportunities for studying the brain with single-cell and spike-time precision. However, challenges in device manufacturing constrain dense multisite recordings to two spatial dimensions, whereas access to the three-dimensional (3D) structure of many brain regions appears to remain a challenge. To overcome this limitation, we present two novel recording modalities of silicon-based devices aimed at establishing 3D functionality. First, we fabricated a dual-side electrode array by patterning recording sites on both the front and back of an implantable microstructure. We found that the majority of single-unit spikes could not be simultaneously detected from both sides, suggesting that in addition to providing higher spatial resolution measurements than that of single-side devices, dual-side arrays also lead to increased recording yield. Second, we obtained recordings along three principal directions with a multilayer array and demonstrated 3D spike source localization within the enclosed measurement space. The large-scale integration of such dual-side and multilayer arrays is expected to provide massively parallel recording capabilities in the brain.


2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (12) ◽  
pp. 1027-1036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Salchow-Hömmen ◽  
Till Thomas ◽  
Markus Valtin ◽  
Thomas Schauer

Abstract The generation of precise hand movements with functional electrical stimulation (FES) via surface electrodes on the forearm faces several challenges. Besides the biomechanical complexity and the required selectivity, the rotation of the forearm during reach-and-grasp tasks leads to a relative change between the skin and underlying tissue, resulting in a varying FES response. We present a new method for automatic adaptation of virtual electrodes (size, position) and stimulation intensity in an electrode array to guarantee a secure grasp during forearm movements. The method involves motion tracking of arm and hand with inertial sensors. This enables the estimation of grasping strength when using elastic objects. Experiments in healthy volunteers revealed that our method allows generating a strong, stable grasp force regardless of the rotational state of the forearm.


1975 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 923-924
Author(s):  
MADGE E. SCHEIBEL ◽  
ARNOLD B. SCHEIBEL

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