title: Chronic stimulation of the semicircular canals using a multichannel vestibular prosthesis: effects on locomotion and angular vestibulo-ocular reflex in chinchillas.
abstract: Bilateral loss of vestibular sensation causes difficulty maintaining stable vision, posture and gait. An implantable prosthesis that partly restores vestibular sensation could significantly improve quality of life for individuals disabled by this disorder. We have developed a head-mounted multichannel vestibular prosthesis (MVP) that restores sufficient semicircular canal function to recreate a 3D angular vestibulo-ocular reflex (aVOR). In this study, we evaluated effects of chronic MVP stimulation on locomotion in chinchillas. Two of three animals examined exhibited significant improvements in both locomotion and aVOR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. dsun8@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Daniel Q
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Mehdi A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Gene
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fridman
authors.forename: Chenkai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Bryce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Charles C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Della Santina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002682:Chinchilla; D004566:Electrodes; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000502:physiology*