title: Basis of electrical stimulation of the cochlea and the cochlear nucleus.
abstract: Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common form of deafness in humans. In patients with a severe-profound sensorineural hearing loss therapeutic intervention can only be achieved by direct electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve via a cochlear implant, or - in cases where a cochlear implant is not a surgical option - neurons within the central auditory pathway via an auditory brainstem implant. This paper reviews the basis of electrical stimulation of these structures with an emphasis on pathophysiology and safety.
authors.affiliation: The Bionic Ear Institute, The University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: Douglas B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: McCreery
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017626:Cochlear Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008839:Microelectrodes / Q000009:adverse effects; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome