Photo-Thermal Neural Excitation by Extrinsic and Intrinsic Absorbers: A Temperature-Rate Model

Details Photo-Thermal Neural Excitation by Extrinsic and Intrinsic Absorbers: A Temperature-Rate Model Photo-Thermal Neural Excitation by Extrinsic and Intrinsic Absorbers: A Temperature-Rate Model

2012-01-23

arxiv.org/abs/1201.4617v1

Biology

Quantitative Biology

Neurons and Cognition

Scientific paper

Infrared neural stimulation (INS) pulses at water-absorbed mid-IR wavelengths could provide a non-invasive and safe modality for stimulating peripheral and cranial nerves and central nervous system neurons. The excitation mechanism underlying INS activation is thought to be mediated by photo-thermal tissue transients, which can also potentially be induced using extrinsic absorbers (Photo-Absorber Induced Neural-Thermal Stimulation or PAINTS). The specific biophysical effect of photo-thermal transients on target neurons has yet to be determined and quantitatively characterized. Here, we propose and study a model for thermally-induced neural stimulation where temperature changes induce a depolarizing transmembrane current proportional to the temperature rate of change. Our model includes physical calculations of the temperature transients induced by laser absorption and a biophysical model of the target cells. Our results indicate that stimulation thresholds predicted by the model are in good agreement with empirical data obtained in cortical cell cultures using extrinsic micro-particle absorbers (PAINTS) as well as with earlier results on auditory neuron stimulation using INS. These results suggest a general empirical-law for photo-thermal interactions with neural systems, and could help direct future basic and applied studies of these phenomena.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Photo-Thermal Neural Excitation by Extrinsic and Intrinsic Absorbers: A Temperature-Rate Model does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Photo-Thermal Neural Excitation by Extrinsic and Intrinsic Absorbers: A Temperature-Rate Model, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Photo-Thermal Neural Excitation by Extrinsic and Intrinsic Absorbers: A Temperature-Rate Model will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-496310