Focal activation of primary visual cortex following supra-choroidal electrical stimulation of the retina: Intrinsic signal imaging and linear model analysis

Abstract

We performed optical intrinsic signal imaging of cat primary visual cortex (Area 17 and 18) while delivering bipolar electrical stimulation to the retina by way of a suprachoroidal electrode array. Using a general linear model (GLM) analysis we identified statistically significant (p < 0.01) activation in a localized region of cortex following supra-threshold electrical stimulation at a single retinal locus. Our results: (1) demonstrate that intrinsic signal imaging combined with linear model analysis provides a powerful tool for assessing cortical responses to prosthetic stimulation, and (2) confirm that suprachoroidal electrical stimulation can achieve localized activation of the cortex consistent with focal activation of the retina.