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Modulatory Effects on Laminar Neural Activity Induced by Near-Infrared Light Stimulation with a Continuous Waveform
Hiromu Sato1, Futoshi Sugimoto1, Ryo Furukawa1
1Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0814, Japan.
Eneuro
|April 16, 2024
Summary
Infrared neural stimulation (INS) offers a minimally invasive neuromodulation technique. This study shows INS can bidirectionally modulate mouse inferior colliculus (IC) neural activity, with inhibitory effects on sound responses.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Auditory Neuroscience
Background:
- Infrared neural stimulation (INS) is a promising neuromodulation technique due to its low invasiveness and localized effects.
- The inferior colliculus (IC) is a key auditory nucleus, making it a potential target for INS in treating hearing disorders and developing artificial hearing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the laminar modulation of neural activity in the mouse IC using continuous INS.
- To determine the effects of varying INS parameters on neural activity, aiming for facilitatory or inhibitory modulation.
- To provide physiological evidence for INS efficacy in the auditory system.
Main Methods:
- Mathematical modeling was used to simulate INS-driven brain tissue and estimate temperature distributions.
- Continuous INS was applied to the IC of anesthetized mice at various power densities.
- Neural activity modulation was measured using an electrophysiological approach, both with and without auditory stimulation.
Main Results:
- INS demonstrated bidirectional modulation (facilitatory and inhibitory) of spontaneous neural activity in the IC.
- INS consistently produced an inhibitory effect on sound-evoked responses across all tested stimulus intensities.
- The study identified effective INS parameters for modulating IC neural activity.
Conclusions:
- INS can effectively modulate neural activity in the inferior colliculus with potential for therapeutic applications.
- The findings support the development of new therapies for neurological disorders and auditory functional support devices.
- INS offers a precise method for neuromodulation in the auditory pathway.
