Cochlear implants: high rate stimulation studies and the effect of electrode position [Abstract]

This paper summarizes our recent findings investigating the safety of high rate electrical stimulation, and reviews the effects of electrode position on auditory excitability. These studies used charge balanced biphasic pulses and electrode shorting between stimuli to minimize any residual charge or direct current. High rate (400-1000 pulses/s) electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve can result in significant stimulus induced reductions in auditory nerve excitability at stimulus levels well above those used clinically (1). The extent of this reduction was dependent on stimulus rate, intensity and duty cycle, implying that such changes were related to the degree of evoked activity.6-8 Jun