Ear Implant Lets Deaf Gerbils Sense Sound From Light Signals (physicsworld.com) 20
An anonymous reader shares a report: A research team at the University Medical Center Gottingen has created a cochlear implant that uses light to restore auditory responses in deaf gerbils. The study provides a proof-of-concept that combining optical stimulation with genetic manipulation can successfully restore sound perception, and could lead to a new generation of more accurate cochlear implants.
Approximately 360 million people worldwide have hearing impairment. Traditional cochlear implants can partially restore the ability to hear in many of these patients by stimulating ear cells with electrical signals. In such devices, however, the generated current tends to spread around each point of contact, activation of a large population of neurons and limiting the resolution and clarity of sound signals. Christian Wrobel and colleagues tackled this obstacle by designing a light-based cochlear implant. Optical stimulation promises spatially confined activation of neurons in the auditory nerve, potentially yielding spatially precise ear cell stimulation with limited spreading.
Approximately 360 million people worldwide have hearing impairment. Traditional cochlear implants can partially restore the ability to hear in many of these patients by stimulating ear cells with electrical signals. In such devices, however, the generated current tends to spread around each point of contact, activation of a large population of neurons and limiting the resolution and clarity of sound signals. Christian Wrobel and colleagues tackled this obstacle by designing a light-based cochlear implant. Optical stimulation promises spatially confined activation of neurons in the auditory nerve, potentially yielding spatially precise ear cell stimulation with limited spreading.
Re: why do you have a gerbil (Score:1)
I have to remove it from my ass first
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Richard Gere is that you?
Not much use (Score:1)
They still won't listen to you.
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Def Leopard! (Score:1)
The earlier band Def Gerbil never really took off.
Then they got a new manager and changed their name.
Nice (Score:4, Funny)
But will they be able to hear in the dark? :-)
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Actually I would love a kind of augmented hearing device, that compresses ultra sonics and infra sonics into the hearing spectrum. Would be interesting to hear the bats better and what other kind of noises are around.
Can we give them wings... (Score:2)
Can we give these Gerbils wings? They could replace bats in the ecosystem. They would be much cuter than most bats. Bonus points if the wings are ribbed for Gere's pleasure
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Can we give these Gerbils wings? They could replace bats in the ecosystem. They would be much cuter than most bats. Bonus points if the wings are ribbed for Gere's pleasure
Give them some Red Bull.
A great day for gerbil-kind! (Score:2)