FURI | Spring 2025

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

Neuromodulation therapies through electrical stimulation are widely used in the rapidly emerging neurotechnology industry. Although these kinds of therapies have been proven to be useful in many applications, the specific mechanism(s) behind the cause of cell damage due to electrical stimulation, is/are still unknown. This research seeks to identify these unknown mechanisms through in vitro experiments while considering factors such as local oxygen levels, carbon dioxide levels, and changes in temperature within the tissue. Identifying the relevance of these factors regarding neural stimulation will allow for important advancements in the field of neurotechnology.