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Updated: Jan 5, 2026
Transcranial Electrical Brain Stimulation in Alert Rodents
Published on: November 2, 2017
DRG microstimulation evokes postural responses in awake, standing felines.
Kevin W King1, William F Cusack, Ameya C Nanivadekar
1Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America. Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America. Rehabilitation Neural Engineering Laboratories, 3520 Fifth Avenue, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America. KWK and WFC contributed equally to this work. LEF and DJW contributed equally to this work.
Microstimulation of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in awake cats evoked measurable postural changes. This technique shows promise for restoring somatosensory feedback after neurological injuries.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Motor Control
Background:
- Previous studies demonstrated microstimulation of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) can activate primary afferent neurons in anesthetized animals.
- This research extends those findings to awake subjects, investigating postural control during quiet standing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the postural effects of DRG microstimulation in awake cats.
- To determine how stimulation parameters, such as location and amplitude, influence postural responses.
Main Methods:
- Four cats were chronically implanted with microelectrode arrays in the L6 and L7 DRG.
- Stimulation was delivered to identified channels recruiting primary afferent neurons with specific conduction velocities.
- Changes in ground reaction forces (GRF) were measured to quantify postural responses.
Main Results:
- DRG microstimulation evoked distinct and repeatable changes in GRF, indicating postural shifts.
- Stimulation amplitude significantly modulated the magnitude of these postural responses (p < 0.001).
- No signs of distress were observed, suggesting the stimulation was not noxious.
Conclusions:
- DRG microstimulation can elicit reliable postural adjustments in awake animals.
- Low-amplitude DRG microstimulation may offer a viable method for restoring somatosensory feedback after neurological damage, such as amputation.
