The first successful case of hearing produced by electrical stimulation of the human midbrain

Electrical stimulation of the inferior colliculus in the midbrain can provide a safe and efficacious alternative to auditory brainstem implants (ABIs). Patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) receive limited speech recognition with ABIs. Some ABI patients without NF2 can achieve excellent speec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Otology & neurotology Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 39 - 43
Main Authors:	Colletti, Vittorio, Shannon, Robert, Carner, Marco, Sacchetto, Luca, Turazzi, Sergio, Masotto, Barbara, Colletti, Lilliana
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States 01-01-2007
Subjects:	Adult Auditory Brain Stem Implantation Auditory Cortex - physiology Auditory Threshold - physiology Deafness - surgery Electric Stimulation - instrumentation Electrodes, Implanted Humans Inferior Colliculi - surgery Male Neurofibromatosis 2 Speech Perception - physiology Time Factors Treatment Outcome
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Summary:	Electrical stimulation of the inferior colliculus in the midbrain can provide a safe and efficacious alternative to auditory brainstem implants (ABIs). Patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) receive limited speech recognition with ABIs. Some ABI patients without NF2 can achieve excellent speech understanding, suggesting that the limited NF2 performance is due to brainstem damage from the tumor and its removal. An array of electrodes (Med-El ABI) was placed on the dorsal surface of the inferior colliculus in the midbrain of a human volunteer as an auditory prosthesis via an infratentorial supracerebellar median surgical approach. Electrophysiological responses, psychophysical responses, and speech recognition were measured. Electrical stimulation produced auditory sensations on all 12 electrodes with no nonauditory sensations. Auditory threshold levels indicated the stability of the electrode array over time. Electrophysiological measures showed activation in the contralateral auditory cortex but none in ipsilateral cortex. All electrodes demonstrated a full range of loudness sensation and electrode-specific pitch sensations. Speech recognition was significant, but limited in the first month after surgery. This approach may provide advantages for patients with brainstem damage.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Case Study-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-4 content type line 23 ObjectType-Report-1 ObjectType-Article-3
ISSN:	1531-7129
DOI:	10.1097/01.mao.0000247808.47712.02