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Near physiological spectral selectivity of cochlear optogenetics

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander Dieter

    (University Medical Center Göttingen
    University of Göttingen)

  • Carlos J. Duque-Afonso

    (University Medical Center Göttingen
    University of Göttingen
    Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine)

  • Vladan Rankovic

    (University Medical Center Göttingen
    German Primate Center
    German Primate Center)

  • Marcus Jeschke

    (University Medical Center Göttingen
    German Primate Center
    German Primate Center)

  • Tobias Moser

    (University Medical Center Göttingen
    University of Göttingen
    Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine
    German Primate Center)

Abstract

Cochlear implants (CIs) electrically stimulate spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) and partially restore hearing to half a million CI users. However, wide current spread from intracochlear electrodes limits spatial selectivity (i.e. spectral resolution) of electrical CIs. Optogenetic stimulation might become an alternative, since light can be confined in space, promising artificial sound encoding with increased spectral selectivity. Here we compare spectral selectivity of optogenetic, electric, and acoustic stimulation by multi-channel recordings in the inferior colliculus (IC) of gerbils. When projecting light onto tonotopically distinct SGNs, we observe corresponding tonotopically ordered IC activity. An activity-based comparison reveals that spectral selectivity of optogenetic stimulation is indistinguishable from acoustic stimulation for modest intensities. Moreover, optogenetic stimulation outperforms bipolar electric stimulation at medium and high intensities and monopolar electric stimulation at all intensities. In conclusion, we demonstrate better spectral selectivity of optogenetic over electric SGN stimulation, suggesting the potential for improved hearing restoration by optical CIs.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Dieter & Carlos J. Duque-Afonso & Vladan Rankovic & Marcus Jeschke & Tobias Moser, 2019. "Near physiological spectral selectivity of cochlear optogenetics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09980-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09980-7
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