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A biomimetic electrical stimulation strategy to induce asynchronous stochastic neural activity
Emanuele Formento1, Edoardo D'Anna, Sandra Gribi
1Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational Neuroengineering, Centre for Neuroprosthetics and Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland. Equal contribution.
Journal of Neural Engineering
|July 11, 2020
Summary
This study introduces a novel biomimetic stimulation (BioS) strategy to mimic natural neural activity. BioS bursts achieve asynchronous, stochastic, and controllable neural firing for advanced neurostimulation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Electrical stimulation is a key method for modulating nervous system activity.
- Current methods lack the stochastic and asynchronous properties of natural neural signals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel biomimetic stimulation (BioS) strategy.
- To overcome limitations of current stimulation paradigms in reproducing natural neural activity.
Main Methods:
- Hypothesized that high-frequency amplitude-modulated bursts induce asynchronous neural firings.
- Tested hypothesis using computer simulations and ex vivo experiments.
Main Results:
- Biomimetic stimulation (BioS) bursts induce asynchronous, stochastic, and controllable neural activity.
- Varying BioS burst parameters (amplitude, duration, frequency) allows graded control over recruited fibers, firing rate, and response synchronicity.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrates unprecedented control over artificially induced neural activity.
- Enables design of next-generation biomimetic stimulation paradigms.
- Potential for profound impact on the field of neurostimulation.
