Infrared neural stimulation has been studied for its potential to replace an electrical stimulation of a cochlear implant. No studies, however, revealed how the technic reliably evoke auditory cortical activities. This research investigated the effects of cochlear laser stimulation from the outer ear on auditory cortex using brain imaging of activity-dependent changes in mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence signal. An optic fiber was inserted into the gerbil's ear canal to stimulate the lateral side of the cochlea with an infrared laser. Laser stimulation was found to activate the identified primary auditory cortex. In addition, the temporal profile of the laser-evoked responses was comparable to that of the auditory responses. Our results indicate that infrared laser irradiation from the outer ear has the capacity to evoke, and possibly manipulate, the neural activities of the auditory cortex and may substitute for the present cochlear implants in future.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7561108 | PMC |
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0240227 | PLOS |
Langmuir
January 2025
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
Nanocomposites of epoxy with FeO featuring dynamic disulfide bonds were fabricated. To facilitate the dispersion of FeO nanoparticles, we synthesized poly(ε-caprolactone)-grafted FeO nanoparticles, which were then incorporated into epoxy to generate robust interfacial interactions between epoxy and the inorganic nanoparticles. Through this approach, a fine dispersion of the inorganic nanoparticles in the epoxy matrix was successfully obtained.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Appl Bio Mater
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202, United States.
Synergistic photodynamic/photothermal therapy (PDT/PTT) can be used to target cancer cells by locally generating singlet oxygen species or increasing temperature under laser irradiation. This approach offers higher tumor ablation efficiency, lower therapeutic dose requirements, and reduced side effects compared to single treatment approaches. However, the therapeutic efficiency of PDT/PTT is still limited by the low oxygen levels within the solid tumors caused by abnormal vasculature and altered cancer cell metabolism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Sci (Weinh)
January 2025
Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic systemic autoimmune disease that often results in irreversible joint erosion and disability. Methotrexate (MTX) is the first-line drug against RA, but the significant side effects of long-term administration limit its use. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are needed for treating RA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Food Sci Technol
January 2025
Institute of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, Ulm 89075, Germany.
Mycotoxin contamination in cereals is a global food safety concern. One of the most common mycotoxins in grains is deoxynivalenol (DON), a secondary metabolite produced by the fungi and . Exposure to DON can lead to adverse health effects in both humans and animals including vomiting, dizziness, and fever.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanophotonics
January 2025
Institute of Physics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Sum-frequency generation (SFG) enables the coherent upconversion of electromagnetic signals and plays a significant role in mid-infrared vibrational spectroscopy for molecular analysis. Recent research indicates that plasmonic nanocavities, which confine light to extremely small volumes, can facilitate the detection of vibrational SFG signals from individual molecules by leveraging surface-enhanced Raman scattering combined with mid-infrared laser excitation. In this article, we compute the degree of second order coherence ( (0)) of the upconverted mid-infrared field under realistic parameters and accounting for the anharmonic potential that characterizes vibrational modes of individual molecules.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!