Behavioral paradigm for the evaluation of stimulation-evoked somatosensory perception thresholds in rats.

ABSTRACT: Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) of the somatosensory cortex via penetrating microelectrode arrays (MEAs) can evoke cutaneous and proprioceptive sensations for restoration of perception in individuals with spinal cord injuries. However, ICMS current amplitudes needed to evoke these sensory percepts tend to change over time following implantation. Animal models have been used to investigate the mechanisms by which these changes occur and aid in the development of new engineering strategies to mitigate such changes. Non-human primates are commonly the animal of choice for investigating ICMS, but ethical concerns exist regarding their use. Rodents are a preferred animal model due to their availability, affordability, and ease of handling, but there are limited choices of behavioral tasks

SUBMITTER: Smith TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10293669 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature