ReviewLaryngoscope investigative otolaryngology2021
Near-infrared stimulation of the auditory nerve: A decade of progress toward an optical cochlear implant.
Review in Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 25 citations in OpenAlex.
- Cortical neuron calcium response to infrared neural stimulation depends on the spatiotemporal thermal gradient.Biomedical optics express · 2026Article
- Optical induction of auditory perception via cochlear stimulation in Mongolian gerbils without genetic modification.iScience · 2026Article
- Transient infrared laser exposure modulates calcium activity in cortical dendritic spines.Biophotonics discovery · 2026Article
- The auditory nerve implant-concept and device description of a novel electrical auditory prosthesis.Bioelectronic medicine · 2025Review
- Acoustic stimulation of the human round window by laser-induced nonlinear optoacoustics.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Review
- Acoustic and optoacoustic stimulations in auditory brainstem response test in salicylate induced tinnitus.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Vestibular prosthesis: from basic research to clinics.Frontiers in integrative neuroscience · 2023Review
- An optically-guided cochlear implant sheath for real-time monitoring of electrode insertion into the human cochlea.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- Conversations in Cochlear Implantation: The Inner Ear Therapy of Today.Biomolecules · 2022Review
- Channel Interaction During Infrared Light Stimulation in the Cochlea.Lasers in surgery and medicine · 2021Article
- Near-infrared stimulation of the auditory nerve: A decade of progress toward an optical cochlear implant.Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesWe provide an appraisal of recent research on stimulation of the auditory system with light. In particular, we discuss direct infrared stimulation and ongoing controversies regarding the feasibility of this modality. We also discuss advancements and barriers to the development of an optical cochlear implant.
methodsThis is a review article that covers relevant animal studies.
resultsThe auditory system has been stimulated with infrared light, and in a much more spatially selective manner than with electrical stimulation. However, there are experiments from other labs that have not been able to reproduce these results. This has resulted in an ongoing controversy regarding the feasibility of infrared stimulation, and the reasons for these experimental differences still require explanation. The neural response characteristics also appear to be much different than with electrical stimulation. The electrical stimulation paradigms used for modern cochlear implants do not apply well to optical stimulation and new coding strategies are under development. Stimulation with infrared light brings the risk of heat accumulation in the tissue at high pulse repetition rates, so optimal pulse shapes and combined optical/electrical stimulation are being investigated to mitigate this. Optogenetics is another promising technique, which makes neurons more sensitive to light stimulation by inserting light sensitive ion channels via viral vectors. Challenges of optogenetics include the expression of light sensitive channels in sufficient density in the target neurons, and the risk of damaging neurons by the expression of a foreign protein.
conclusionOptical stimulation of the nervous system is a promising new field, and there has been progress toward the development of a cochlear implant that takes advantage of the benefits of optical stimulation. There are barriers, and controversies, but so far none that seem intractable. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA (animal studies and basic research).
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.