Neuronal Activity Evoked in the Inferior Colliculus of the Cat by Surface Macroelectrodes and Penetrating Microelectrodes Implanted in the Cochlear Nucleus

Persons lacking functional auditory nerves cannot benefit from cochlear implants, but an auditory brainstem implant (ABI) utilizing stimulating electrodes adjacent to or on their cochlear nucleus (CN) can restore some hearing. We are investigating the feasibility of supplementing these surface electrodes with penetrating microstimulating electrodes within the ventral CN (VCN), and how the two types of electrodes can be used synergistically. Multiunit neuronal responses evoked by VCN electrical stimulation with surface electrodes and microelectrodes were recorded in the inferior colliculus (ICC) of five cats. The findings are consistent with those from patients with type II neurofibromatosis who received ABIs with both surface and microelectrodes. The patients described percepts from their microelectrodes as more similar to pure tones than those from their surface electrodes, consistent with the greater tonotopic selectivity of microelectrodes in the cats' VCN. Also, the patients describe percepts from their surface electrodes as louder than those from the microelectrodes, while in the cat, the neuronal activity evoked in the ICC by the surface electrodes tended to be greater. This concordance helps to validate our cat model as a means of investigating the synergistic use of surface and penetrating electrodes in a clinical ABI.