IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
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IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng · Sep 2005
Simulation of nerve block by high-frequency sinusoidal electrical current based on the Hodgkin-Huxley model.
Nerve conduction block induced by high-frequency sinusoidal electrical current was simulated using a lumped circuit model of the unmyelinated axon based on Hodgkin-Huxley equations. Axons of different diameters (1-20 microm) can be blocked when the stimulation frequency is above 4 kHz. At higher frequency, a higher stimulation intensity is needed to block nerve conduction. ⋯ High-frequency sinusoidal electrical currents are less effective in blocking nerve conduction than biphasic square pulses of the same frequency. The activation of potassium channels, rather than inactivation of sodium channels, is the possible mechanism underlying the nerve conduction block of the unmyelinated axon induced by high-frequency biphasic (sinusoidal or square pulse) stimulation. This simulation study, which provides more information about the axonal conduction block induced by high-frequency sinusoidal currents, can guide future animal experiments, as well as optimize stimulation waveforms for electrical nerve block in possible clinical applications.
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IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng · Jun 2005
Clinical TrialVisual spatial attention tracking using high-density SSVEP data for independent brain-computer communication.
The steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) has been employed successfully in brain-computer interface (BCI) research, but its use in a design entirely independent of eye movement has until recently not been reported. This paper presents strong evidence suggesting that the SSVEP can be used as an electrophysiological correlate of visual spatial attention that may be harnessed on its own or in conjunction with other correlates to achieve control in an independent BCI. ⋯ This yielded an average accuracy of approximately 71% across ten subjects (highest 86%) comparable across two separate cases in which flicker frequencies were set within and outside the alpha range respectively. Further, combining SSVEP features with attention-dependent parieto-occipital alpha band modulations resulted in an average accuracy of 79% (highest 87%).
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A computational bidomain model of epiretinal stimulation is presented, consisting of a continuum description of active retinal tissue in contact with bulk vitreous fluid. Results from two-electrode and four-electrode bipolar stimulation suggest that a biphasic cathodic-anodic stimulus sequence is effective in providing targeted focal activation of retinal tissue. Undesired secondary activations beneath each electrode return may be eliminated by using multiple returns for each stimulus electrode.
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IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng · Mar 2005
Clinical TrialA parametric feature extraction and classification strategy for brain-computer interfacing.
Parametric modeling strategies are explored in conjunction with linear discriminant analysis for use in an electroencephalogram (EEG)-based brain-computer interface (BCI). A left/right self-paced typing exercise is analyzed by extending the usual autoregressive (AR) model for EEG feature extraction with an AR with exogenous input (ARX) model for combined filtering and feature extraction. ⋯ Based on trials with six subjects, the ARX case of modeling both the signal and noise was found to be considerably more effective than modeling the noise alone (common in BCI systems) with the AR method yielding a classification accuracy of 52.8+/-4.8% and the ARX method an accuracy of 79.1+/-3.9 % across subjects. The results suggest a role for ARX-based feature extraction in BCIs based on evoked and event-related potentials.
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IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng · Dec 2004
Intraspinal microstimulation generates functional movements after spinal-cord injury.
Restoring locomotion after spinal-cord injury has been a difficult problem to solve with traditional functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems. Intraspinal microstimulation (ISMS) is a novel approach to FES that takes advantage of spinal-cord locomotor circuits by stimulating in the spinal cord directly. Previous studies in spinal-cord intact cats showed near normal recruitment order, reduced fatigue, and functional, synergistic movements induced by stimulation through a few microwires implanted over a 3-cm region in the lumbosacral cord. ⋯ Phasic, interleaved stimulation through electrodes generating flexor or extensor movements produced bilateral weight-bearing stepping of the hindlimbs with ample foot clearance during swing. Minimal changes in kinematics and little fatigue were seen during episodes of 40 consecutive steps. The results indicate that ISMS is a promising technique for restoring locomotion after injury.