Hearing research
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Electroneural response patterns of single auditory-nerve neurons were studied in aminoglycoside-deafened squirrel monkeys. The electrical stimuli were delivered through bipolar electrodes implanted in the scala tympani. The effects of pulse width, shape, frequency, and intensity on neural adaptation, phase locking, and spectral content were evaluated. ⋯ This may account for the proportional relationship between pitch and stimulus intensity seen in some cochlear implant patients. Our study demonstrates that auditory-nerve neurons comply with basic neurophysiological principles in their responses to electrical stimulation. These principles should be incorporated into the cochlear prosthesis stimulator if more normal neural response patterns are desired in the cochlear prosthesis patient.