Optimizing retinal ganglion cell responses to high-frequency electrical stimulation strategies for preferential neuronal excitation

Abstract

A retinal ganglion cell (RGC) model based on accurate biophysics and detailed representations of cell morphologies was used to understand how these cells respond to electrical stimulation over a wide range of frequencies, spanning 50-2000 pulses per second (PPS). Our modeling results and associated in vitro data both suggest the usefulness of high stimulation frequency in effectively modulating the activity of RGCs. This model can be used for optimizing varied extracellular stimulus profiles, and to assist in the design of sophisticated stimulation strategies for clinical visual neuroprostheses.