Infrared nerve stimulation: A novel therapeutic laser modality

Abstract

Neural stimulation is the process of activating neurons using an external source to evoke action potential propagation down an axon. Electrical, chemical, thermal, optical, and mechanical methods have all been reported to stimulate neurons in both the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) [1]. For nearly 2 centuries electrical stimulation has been the gold standard for the stimulation of neurons and other excitable tissues. It functions by increasing the transmembrane potential to activate voltage-gated ion channels which induce action potential propagation down the axon of a neuron [2-5]. However, electrical stimulation lacks spatial precision due to the inherent electrical field propagation which results in the recruiting of multiple (unwanted) neuronal fibers. Additionally, electrical stimulation induces a stimulation artifact which can mask neuronal signals resulting from the simulation [6, 7]. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.