Selective control of small versus large diameter axons using infrared laser light
(Conference Presentation)

Emilie H. Lothet; Kendrick M. Shaw; Charles C. Horn; Hui Lu; Yves T. Wang; E. Duco Jansen; Hillel J. Chiel; Michael W. Jenkins

doi:10.1117/12.2212945

26 April 2016 Selective control of small versus large diameter axons using infrared laser light (Conference Presentation)

Emilie H. Lothet, Kendrick M. Shaw, Charles C. Horn, Hui Lu, Yves T. Wang, E. Duco Jansen, Hillel J. Chiel, Michael W. Jenkins

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9690, Clinical and Translational Neurophotonics; Neural Imaging and Sensing; and Optogenetics and Optical Manipulation; 96901N (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2212945
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2016, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Sensory information is conveyed to the central nervous system via small diameter unmyelinated fibers. In general, smaller diameter axons have slower conduction velocities. Selective control of such fibers could create new clinical treatments for chronic pain, nausea in response to chemo-therapeutic agents, or hypertension. Electrical stimulation can control axonal activity, but induced axonal current is proportional to cross-sectional area, so that large diameter fibers are affected first. Physiologically, however, synaptic inputs generally affect small diameter fibers before large diameter fibers (the size principle). A more physiological modality that first affected small diameter fibers could have fewer side effects (e.g., not recruiting motor axons). A novel mathematical analysis of the cable equation demonstrates that the minimum length along the axon for inducing block scales with the square root of axon diameter. This implies that the minimum length along an axon for inhibition will scale as the square root of axon diameter, so that lower radiant exposures of infrared light will selectively affect small diameter, slower conducting fibers before those of large diameter. This prediction was tested in identified neurons from the marine mollusk Aplysia californica. Radiant exposure to block a neuron with a slower conduction velocity (B43) was consistently lower than that needed to block a faster conduction velocity neuron (B3). Furthermore, in the vagus nerve of the musk shrew, lower radiant exposure blocked slow conducting fibers before blocking faster conducting fibers. Infrared light can selectively control smaller diameter fibers, suggesting many novel clinical treatments.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Emilie H. Lothet, Kendrick M. Shaw, Charles C. Horn, Hui Lu, Yves T. Wang, E. Duco Jansen, Hillel J. Chiel, and Michael W. Jenkins "Selective control of small versus large diameter axons using infrared laser light (Conference Presentation)", Proc. SPIE 9690, Clinical and Translational Neurophotonics; Neural Imaging and Sensing; and Optogenetics and Optical Manipulation, 96901N (26 April 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2212945

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
PRESENTATION

WATCH
PRESENTATION SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

KEYWORDS

Axons

Optical fibers

Neurons

Infrared lasers

Infrared radiation

Mathematics

Nerve

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years