Control strategies for nerves modeled by self-exciting point processes

Abstract

Cochlear implants electrically stimulate the auditory nerve with the aim of generating a perception of sound via an evoked neural response pattern. An electrically stimulated auditory nerve responds differently to an acoustically stimulated auditory nerve, and the surviving nerves of patients with a hearing loss may exhibit characteristics different from those of normal-hearing people. Thus, the cochlear implant evoked response pattern differs greatly from that of the normal hearing situation. One method of understanding such response patterns is to employ a mathematic model. If possible, the model should permit the determination of neural response differences between closely related sounds, and facilitate the design of stimuli that evoke desired neural response patterns. How should such a model be chosen?