Utilization of brain scans to create realistic phosphene maps for cortical visual prosthesis simulation studies

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Computer Science

Background:

• Cortical prosthetic vision aims to restore light perception via phosphenes, which act as controllable visual pixels.
• Phosphene location variability between individuals presents a significant challenge for creating recognizable visual patterns.
• Computer simulations are crucial for evaluating cortical visual prostheses due to recruitment and surgical risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a more realistic simulation for cortical visual prostheses by incorporating individual phosphene map variability.
• To assess the usability of realistic phosphene maps for representing visual stimuli.
• To provide a more accurate estimation of the visual capabilities of cortical visual prostheses.

Main Methods:

• Derived realistic phosphene maps from an existing cortical retinotopy dataset.
• Determined optimal implant placement considering neurosurgical constraints.
• Rendered visual stimuli using the developed phosphene maps to evaluate their usability.

Main Results:

• Realistic phosphene maps were successfully derived and integrated into a simulation model.
• The usability of phosphene maps for presenting visual information was evaluated.
• Results suggest that representing complex visual information via phosphenes is more challenging than prior simulations indicated.

Conclusions:

• The developed simulation provides a more realistic assessment of cortical visual prosthesis capabilities.
• Individual phosphene map variability significantly impacts the potential for visual restoration.
• Further research is needed to overcome the challenges in translating phosphene perception into meaningful visual experiences.