FURI | Summer 2025

Investigating Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms that Determine Thresholds for Damage in Brain Tissue Due to Electrical Stimulation

Neuromodulation therapies using electrical stimulation are proven to be clinically useful. However, the mechanism(s) behind damage that occurs due to stimulation is unknown. This research seeks to identify the cause of neural cell damage through in vitro experiments while considering local oxygen levels within the tissue. Preliminary results in benchtop experiments using phosphate-buffered saline samples indicate significant changes in oxygen concentrations in response to stimulation. Further experiments in benchtop models and in vivo models are needed to assess if stimulations within Shannon limits constrain the changes in oxygen to levels that do not result in metabolic distress.