Selective activation of distant nerve fibers

A method has been developed to activate selectively nerve fibers lying at some distance from an electrode without activating fibers lying close to the electrode. A subthreshold depolarizing pre-pulse was used to inactive transiently the fibers lying close to the electrode such that a subsequent stimulus activated only those fibers lying at some distance from the electrode. The relationship between the threshold current and the electrode-to-fiber distance could be tuned by varying the amplitude and duration of the depolarizing pre-pulse.

Duke Scholars

Author Warren M. Grill Biomedical Engineering