1
|
Li J, Che Z, Wan X, Manshaii F, Xu J, Chen J. Biomaterials and bioelectronics for self-powered neurostimulation. Biomaterials 2024; 304:122421. [PMID: 38065037 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Self-powered neurostimulation via biomaterials and bioelectronics innovation has emerged as a compelling approach to explore, repair, and modulate neural systems. This review examines the application of self-powered bioelectronics for electrical stimulation of both the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as isolated neurons. Contemporary research has adeptly harnessed biomechanical and biochemical energy from the human body, through various mechanisms such as triboelectricity, piezoelectricity, magnetoelasticity, and biofuel cells, to power these advanced bioelectronics. Notably, these self-powered bioelectronics hold substantial potential for delivering neural stimulations that are customized for the treatment of neurological diseases, facilitation of neural regeneration, and the development of neuroprosthetics. Looking ahead, we expect that the ongoing advancements in biomaterials and bioelectronics will drive the field of self-powered neurostimulation toward the realization of more advanced, closed-loop therapeutic solutions, paving the way for personalized and adaptable neurostimulators in the coming decades.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinlong Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Ziyuan Che
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Xiao Wan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Farid Manshaii
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Porta-de-la-Riva M, Gonzalez AC, Sanfeliu-Cerdán N, Karimi S, Malaiwong N, Pidde A, Morales-Curiel LF, Fernandez P, González-Bolívar S, Hurth C, Krieg M. Neural engineering with photons as synaptic transmitters. Nat Methods 2023; 20:761-769. [PMID: 37024651 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-01836-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal computation is achieved through connections of individual neurons into a larger network. To expand the repertoire of endogenous cellular communication, we developed a synthetic, photon-assisted synaptic transmission (PhAST) system. PhAST is based on luciferases and channelrhodopsins that enable the transmission of a neuronal state across space, using photons as neurotransmitters. PhAST overcomes synaptic barriers and rescues the behavioral deficit of a glutamate mutant with conditional, calcium-triggered photon emission between two neurons of the Caenorhabditis elegans nociceptive avoidance circuit. To demonstrate versatility and flexibility, we generated de novo synaptic transmission between two unconnected cells in a sexually dimorphic neuronal circuit, suppressed endogenous nocifensive response through activation of an anion channelrhodopsin and switched attractive to aversive behavior in an olfactory circuit. Finally, we applied PhAST to dissect the calcium dynamics of the temporal pattern generator in a motor circuit for ovipositioning. In summary, we established photon-based synaptic transmission that facilitates the modification of animal behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Shadi Karimi
- Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Castelldefels, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Cedric Hurth
- Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Castelldefels, Spain
| | - Michael Krieg
- Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Castelldefels, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
The Biomedical Engineering Labor Market in Greece: A Survey Investigating Job Outlook, Satisfaction and Placement. BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING EDUCATION 2023; 3:51-60. [PMID: 36405989 PMCID: PMC9651877 DOI: 10.1007/s43683-022-00088-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we have evaluated the real-world conditions, the job outlook and the job satisfaction in the Biomedical Engineering (BME) sector in Greece on the basis of the experience of about 12% of the graduates of the BME Department of the University of West Attica, Greece. An anonymous online questionnaire, implemented on the Microsoft Forms platform using multiple choice questions, short text answers and Likert-based scales, became publicly available to the graduates of the BME department. About 12% of the department's graduates responded to the survey. Results show that the time to first employment is very fast for both men and women. About 51.4% of men and 69.4% of women find their first job employment in the BME sector even before their graduation. The internship is considered important for first job placement by more than 50.6% of participants. BME jobs are perceived as most interesting (73.6%), in a good environment (71.9%), with satisfactory career prospects (45.9%), with satisfactory monthly net salary (44.2%) and satisfactory working hours (52.8%). Men are mostly employed in Service (40.5%), whereas women are mostly employed in Sales (33.3%). Most graduates with BSc degree are employed in Service (39.1%) and Sales (21.8%), most graduates with MSc degree are employed in Service (34.6%) and Hospitals/Health care centers (21.2%), and most graduates with PhD degree are employed in Academia and R&D (62.5%). Most well-paid participants (>1500 euros net salary) were PhD holders (71.5%), followed by MSc holders (25%) and BSc holders (16.2%). Maximum monthly salaries were found for those with more than 10 years of experience. In terms of BME sector, most well-paid participants (>1500 euros monthly net salary) are those working with R&D (86.7%), Sales (86.7%) and Management (60%). There is a high demand for biomedical engineers in the labor market in Greece, despite the continuing economic recession that the country is suffering from the past 12 years.
Collapse
|
4
|
Koh RGL, Zariffa J, Jabban L, Yen SC, Donaldson N, Metcalfe BW. Tutorial: A guide to techniques for analysing recordings from the peripheral nervous system. J Neural Eng 2022; 19. [PMID: 35772397 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac7d74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The nervous system, through a combination of conscious and automatic processes, enables the regulation of the body and its interactions with the environment. The peripheral nervous system is an excellent target for technologies that seek to modulate, restore or enhance these abilities as it carries sensory and motor information that most directly relates to a target organ or function. However, many applications require a combination of both an effective peripheral nerve interface and effective signal processing techniques to provide selective and stable recordings. While there are many reviews on the design of peripheral nerve interfaces, reviews of data analysis techniques and translational considerations are limited. Thus, this tutorial aims to support new and existing researchers in the understanding of the general guiding principles, and introduces a taxonomy for electrode configurations, techniques and translational models to consider.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan G L Koh
- IBBME, University of Toronto, Rosebrugh Bldg, 164 College St Room 407, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G9, CANADA
| | - Jose Zariffa
- Research, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute - University Health Network, 550 University Ave, #12-102, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2A2, CANADA
| | - Leen Jabban
- Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Claverton Down, Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Shih-Cheng Yen
- Engineering Design and Innovation Centre, National University of Singapore, 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119077, SINGAPORE
| | - Nick Donaldson
- Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Benjamin W Metcalfe
- Electronics & Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, Somerset, BA2 7JY, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
van Velthoven EAM, van Stuijvenberg OC, Haselager DRE, Broekman M, Chen X, Roelfsema P, Bredenoord AL, Jongsma KR. Ethical implications of visual neuroprostheses-a systematic review. J Neural Eng 2022; 19. [PMID: 35475424 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac65b2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective. The aim of this review was to systematically identify the ethical implications of visual neuroprostheses.Approach. A systematic search was performed in both PubMed and Embase using a search string that combined synonyms for visual neuroprostheses, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), cochlear implants (CIs), and ethics. We chose to include literature on BCIs and CIs, because of their ethically relavant similarities and functional parallels with visual neuroprostheses.Main results. We included 84 articles in total. Six focused specifically on visual prostheses. The other articles focused more broadly on neurotechnologies, on BCIs or CIs. We identified 169 ethical implications that have been categorized under seven main themes: (a) benefits for health and well-being; (b) harm and risk; (c) autonomy; (d) societal effects; (e) clinical research; (f) regulation and governance; and (g) involvement of experts, patients and the public.Significance. The development and clinical use of visual neuroprostheses is accompanied by ethical issues that should be considered early in the technological development process. Though there is ample literature on the ethical implications of other types of neuroprostheses, such as motor neuroprostheses and CIs, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding the ethical implications of visual neuroprostheses. Our findings can serve as a starting point for further research and normative analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E A M van Velthoven
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85500, Utrecht, 3508 GA, The Netherlands
| | - O C van Stuijvenberg
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85500, Utrecht, 3508 GA, The Netherlands
| | - D R E Haselager
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85500, Utrecht, 3508 GA, The Netherlands
| | - M Broekman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Haaglanden Medical Center, The Hague, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurosurgery, Leiden Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - X Chen
- Department of Vision & Cognition, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P Roelfsema
- Department of Vision & Cognition, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A L Bredenoord
- Erasmus School of Philosophy, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - K R Jongsma
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85500, Utrecht, 3508 GA, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wårdell K, Nordin T, Vogel D, Zsigmond P, Westin CF, Hariz M, Hemm S. Deep Brain Stimulation: Emerging Tools for Simulation, Data Analysis, and Visualization. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:834026. [PMID: 35478842 PMCID: PMC9036439 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.834026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-established neurosurgical procedure for movement disorders that is also being explored for treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions. This review highlights important consideration for DBS simulation and data analysis. The literature on DBS has expanded considerably in recent years, and this article aims to identify important trends in the field. During DBS planning, surgery, and follow up sessions, several large data sets are created for each patient, and it becomes clear that any group analysis of such data is a big data analysis problem and has to be handled with care. The aim of this review is to provide an update and overview from a neuroengineering perspective of the current DBS techniques, technical aids, and emerging tools with the focus on patient-specific electric field (EF) simulations, group analysis, and visualization in the DBS domain. Examples are given from the state-of-the-art literature including our own research. This work reviews different analysis methods for EF simulations, tractography, deep brain anatomical templates, and group analysis. Our analysis highlights that group analysis in DBS is a complex multi-level problem and selected parameters will highly influence the result. DBS analysis can only provide clinically relevant information if the EF simulations, tractography results, and derived brain atlases are based on as much patient-specific data as possible. A trend in DBS research is creation of more advanced and intuitive visualization of the complex analysis results suitable for the clinical environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karin Wårdell
- Neuroengineering Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Teresa Nordin
- Neuroengineering Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Dorian Vogel
- Neuroengineering Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Medical Informatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Peter Zsigmond
- Department of Neurosurgery and Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Carl-Fredrik Westin
- Neuroengineering Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Marwan Hariz
- Unit of Functional Neurosurgery, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Neuroscience, Ume University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Simone Hemm
- Neuroengineering Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Medical Informatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ottaviani MM, Vallone F, Micera S, Recchia FA. Closed-Loop Vagus Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases: State of the Art and Future Directions. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:866957. [PMID: 35463766 PMCID: PMC9021417 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.866957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The autonomic nervous system exerts a fine beat-to-beat regulation of cardiovascular functions and is consequently involved in the onset and progression of many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Selective neuromodulation of the brain-heart axis with advanced neurotechnologies is an emerging approach to corroborate CVDs treatment when classical pharmacological agents show limited effectiveness. The vagus nerve is a major component of the cardiac neuroaxis, and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a promising application to restore autonomic function under various pathological conditions. VNS has led to encouraging results in animal models of CVDs, but its translation to clinical practice has not been equally successful, calling for more investigation to optimize this technique. Herein we reviewed the state of the art of VNS for CVDs and discuss avenues for therapeutic optimization. Firstly, we provided a succinct description of cardiac vagal innervation anatomy and physiology and principles of VNS. Then, we examined the main clinical applications of VNS in CVDs and the related open challenges. Finally, we presented preclinical studies that aim at overcoming VNS limitations through optimization of anatomical targets, development of novel neural interface technologies, and design of efficient VNS closed-loop protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Maria Ottaviani
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Excellence in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Vallone
- Department of Excellence in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvestro Micera
- Department of Excellence in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
- Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational Neural Engineering, Center for Neuroprosthetics, Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Fabio A. Recchia
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
- Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Regulatory Mechanism for Absence Seizures in Bidirectional Interactive Thalamocortical Model via Different Targeted Therapy Schemes. Neural Plast 2021; 2021:1198072. [PMID: 34567107 PMCID: PMC8463191 DOI: 10.1155/2021/1198072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent clinical practice has found that the spike-wave discharge (SWD) scopes of absence seizures change from small cortical region to large thalamocortical networks, which has also been proved by theoretical simulation. The best biophysics explanation is that there are interactions between coupled cortico-thalamic and thalamocortical circuits. To agree with experiment results and describe the phenomena better, we constructed a coupled thalamocortical model with bidirectional channel (CTMBC) to account for the causes of absence seizures which are connected by the principle of two-way communication of neural pathways. By adjusting the coupling strength of bidirectional pathways, the spike-wave discharges are reproduced. Regulatory mechanism for absence seizures is further applied to CTMBC via four different targeted therapy schemes, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), charge-balanced biphasic pulse (CBBP), coordinated reset stimulation (CRS) 1 : 0, and (CRS) 3 : 2. The new CTMBC model shows that neurodiversity in bidirectional interactive channel could supply theory reference for the bidirectional communication mode of thalamocortical networks and the hypothesis validation of pathogenesis.
Collapse
|
9
|
Cai L, Gutruf P. Soft, Wireless and subdermally implantable recording and neuromodulation tools. J Neural Eng 2021; 18. [PMID: 33607646 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/abe805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Progress in understanding neuronal interaction and circuit behavior of the central and peripheral nervous system strongly relies on the advancement of tools that record and stimulate with high fidelity and specificity. Currently, devices used in exploratory research predominantly utilize cables or tethers to provide pathways for power supply, data communication, stimulus delivery and recording, which constrains the scope and use of such devices. In particular, the tethered connection, mechanical mismatch to surrounding soft tissues and bones frustrate the interface leading to irritation and limitation of motion of the subject, which in the case of fundamental and preclinical studies, impacts naturalistic behaviors of animals and precludes the use in experiments involving social interaction and ethologically relevant three-dimensional environments, limiting the use of current tools to mostly rodents and exclude species such as birds and fish. This review explores the current state-of-the-art in wireless, subdermally implantable tools that quantitively expand capabilities in analysis and perturbation of the central and peripheral nervous system by removing tethers and externalized features of implantable neuromodulation and recording tools. Specifically, the review explores power harvesting strategies, wireless communication schemes, and soft materials and mechanics that enable the creation of such devices and discuss their capabilities in the context of freely-behaving subjects. Highlights of this class of devices includes wireless battery-free and fully implantable operation with capabilities in cell specific recording, multimodal neural stimulation and electrical, optogenetic and pharmacological neuromodulation capabilities. We conclude with discussion on translation of such technologies which promises routes towards broad dissemination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Le Cai
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, 1230 N Cherry Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85719, UNITED STATES
| | - Philipp Gutruf
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, 1230 N Cherry Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85719, UNITED STATES
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Investigating the Association between Motor Function, Neuroinflammation, and Recording Metrics in the Performance of Intracortical Microelectrode Implanted in Motor Cortex. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11090838. [PMID: 32899336 PMCID: PMC7570280 DOI: 10.3390/mi11090838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Long-term reliability of intracortical microelectrodes remains a challenge for increased acceptance and deployment. There are conflicting reports comparing measurements associated with recording quality with postmortem histology, in attempts to better understand failure of intracortical microelectrodes (IMEs). Our group has recently introduced the assessment of motor behavior tasks as another metric to evaluate the effects of IME implantation. We hypothesized that adding the third dimension to our analysis, functional behavior testing, could provide substantial insight on the health of the tissue, success of surgery/implantation, and the long-term performance of the implanted device. Here we present our novel analysis scheme including: (1) the use of numerical formal concept analysis (nFCA) and (2) a regression analysis utilizing modern model/variable selection. The analyses found complimentary relationships between the variables. The histological variables for glial cell activation had associations between each other, as well as the neuronal density around the electrode interface. The neuronal density had associations to the electrophysiological recordings and some of the motor behavior metrics analyzed. The novel analyses presented herein describe a valuable tool that can be utilized to assess and understand relationships between diverse variables being investigated. These models can be applied to a wide range of ongoing investigations utilizing various devices and therapeutics.
Collapse
|
11
|
Fan D, Wang Q. Closed-Loop Control of Absence Seizures Inspired by Feedback Modulation of Basal Ganglia to the Corticothalamic Circuit. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2020; 28:581-590. [PMID: 32011258 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2020.2969426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Basal ganglia (BG) has been demonstrated to play the role of modulation for absence seizure generated in the corticothalamic (CT) circuit. But it is unknown what the principle of modulation is and how to improve the modulation if BG fails to hold back the absence seizures. Although neurostimulation has been surgically employed to improve the clinical symptom of patients with epilepsy, the mechanism underlying the neurostimulation regulation is still unclear. In addition, it is not clear what sort of the spatiotemporal patterned stimulation protocols can effectively abate absence seizures with less side effect and energy consumption. Here, we address these issues on the previously proposed BG-CT model. In particular, we develop a reduced corticothalamic (RCT) moldel by viewing BG as a 2I:3O feedback modulator. By calculating the mean firing rate (MFR) and triggering mean firing rate (TMFR), we find that absence seizures can be induced or abated using the neurostimulations through driving the MFRs of the related neurons to fall into or be kicked out of the regions bounded by the TMFRs. In particular, closed-loop m:n ON-OFF anodic-cathodic-cathodic (ACC) triphase coordinated resetting stimulation (CRS) applied on the CT circuit and designed with the TMFR of subthalamic nucleus (STN) in BG could achieve the satisfying abatement effects of absence seizures with the least current consumption.
Collapse
|