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Updated: Dec 6, 2025
Preparation of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Electrodes for Chronic Implantation in Rats
Published on: July 14, 2020
Augmentation of neural activity in peripheral nerve of sheep using 6 kHz subthreshold currents
James Hope1,2, Narrendar RaviChandran1, Frederique Vanholsbeeck2,3
1The Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
Objective:
To determine how increased excitability from subthreshold currents would alter neural activity as it propagates through the subthreshold currents.
Approach:
Experiments were performed on two Romney cross-breed sheep in vivo, by applying subthreshold currents either at the stimulus site or between the stimulus and recording sites. Neural recordings were obtained from nerve cuff implanted on the peroneal or sciatic nerve branches, while stimulus was applied to either the peroneal nerve or pins placed through the lower hindshank.
Main Results:
Showed that subthreshold currents applied to the same site as stimulus increased excitation of underlying nerve fibres (p < 0.005). With stimulus and subthreshold currents applied to different sites on the peroneal nerve, the primary compound action potential (CAP) in the sciatic displayed a temporal shift of -2.5 to -3 µs which agreed with changes observed in the CAP waveform (p > 0.05).
Significance:
These findings contribute to the understanding of mechanisms in myelinated fibres of subthreshold current neuromodulation therapies.
