Comparison of two models of electric neuro-stimulation and consequences for the design of retinal prostheses

TL;DR

This paper compares two mathematical models of electric neuro-stimulation, highlighting the importance of a latency period in the model, and proposes a new stimulation signal for retinal prostheses.

Contribution

It introduces a more realistic neuro-stimulation model incorporating latency, and suggests a novel stimulation signal based on this insight.

Findings

The latency-inclusive model is more realistic than the injected-charge model.

A new stimulation signal is proposed that leverages the latency effect.

The proposed model influences retinal prosthesis design considerations.

Abstract

Two simple mathematical models of electric neuro-stimulation are derived and discussed. It is found that the common injected-charge model is less realistic than a model, in which a latency period, which follows after a short electric pulse, plays a role as important as the electric pulse. A stimulation signal is proposed that takes advantage of these findings and calls for experimental testing.