title: Polarity order of biphasic square pulse electric current stimulation of human cochlear nerve: observations with transtympanic electrodes.
abstract: Eighteen totally deaf human cochleae were stimulated with biphasic square pulses of current through transtympanic needle electrodes. The thresholds of the 2 polarity orders, + - and - +, were compared for various pulse durations. For a pulse duration of 500 microseconds the polarity order - + had the lower threshold. For pulse durations of 2 ms and longer, the polarity order + - had the lower threshold. A discussion is given of the significance of the results for finding out the site of cochlear nerve excitation by the stimuli.
authors.affiliation: University of Sydney, N.S.W. Australia.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Game
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Pauka
mesh_terms: D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D014432:Tympanic Membrane