Demonstration of artificial visual percepts generated through thalamic microstimulation
Open accessAbstract
Electrical stimulation of the visual system might serve as the foundation for a prosthetic device for the blind. We examined whether microstimulation of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus can generate localized visual percepts in alert monkeys. To assess electrically generated percepts, an eye-movement task was used with targets presented on a computer screen (optically) or through microstimulation of the lateral geniculate nucleus (electrically). Saccades (fast, direct eye movements) made to electrical targets were comparable to saccades made to optical targets. Gaze locations for electrical targets were well predicted by measured visual response maps of cells at the electrode tips. With two electrodes, two distinct targets could be independently created. A sequential saccade task verified that electrical targets were processed not in motor coordinates, but in visual spatial coordinates. Microstimulation produced predictable visual percepts, showing that this technique may be useful for a visual prosthesis.
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In previous NHP research, reliable phosphene thresholds could be obtained with stimulation of the LGN, V1, V2, V3A, and MT.
“In previous NHP research, reliable phosphene thresholds could be obtained with the stimulation of the LGN, V1, V2, V3A, and middle temporal visual area (MT) (Pezaris and Reid, 2007; Murphey and Maunsell, 2007).”
From Towards biologically plausible phosphene simulation for the differentiable optimization of visual cortical prostheses (2024) · cites this paper as Pezaris and Reid, 2007
The Results report stimulation thresholds for eliciting saccades in monkeys, and the Discussion interprets LGN-evoked responses as evidence of visual percepts. The paper does not establish reliable phosphene thresholds across all the listed areas: it reports its own LGN results and discusses prior V1 work, but does not establish the claim for V2, V3A, or MT. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredUsing eye movements as a marker for the perceived location has been demonstrated in behaving animals.
“Such a method has been demonstrated in behaving animals [28,29].”
From Eye movements and the perceived location of phosphenes generated by intracranial primary visual cortex stimulation in the blind (2021) · cites this paper as [29]
In animals, LGN microstimulation produced simple discrete visual percepts and visual cortical responses similar to those elicited by natural vision.
“In animals, LGN microstimulation produced simple discrete visual percepts [81] and visual cortical responses similar to those elicited by natural vision [82].”
From Advances in visual prostheses: engineering and biological challenges (2022) · cites this paper as [81]
So far, there have been very few preclinical studies in animals conducted to test the stimulation efficacy of LGN prostheses.
“So far, there have been very few preclinical studies in animals conducted to test the stimulation efficacy [81,83,84].”
From Advances in visual prostheses: engineering and biological challenges (2022) · cites this paper as [81]
A common approach is to use bipolar stimulation through two close electrodes, as shown in retinal, optic nerve, and thalamic prostheses.
“A common approach is to use bipolar stimulation through two close electrodes, as shown in retinal [36,143,144], optic nerve [75], and thalamic prostheses [81].”
From Advances in visual prostheses: engineering and biological challenges (2022) · cites this paper as [81]
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“Future studies could explore the possible extension of modeling micro-stimulation of the LGN ( Pezaris and Reid, 2007 ) and higher visual areas, such as V2, V3, V4, or inferotemporal cortex (IT).”
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“…can functionally replace the eye with a camera that is connected to the retina (Weiland, Liu, & Humayun, 2005; Zrenner et al., 2011), thalamus (Pezaris & Reid, 2007), or visual cortex (Beauchamp & Yoshor, 2020; Chen et al., 2020; Dobelle, Mladejovsky, & Girvin, 1974; Tehovnik & Slocum, 2013).”
Background
- Authors
- Pezaris, J. S., & Reid, R. C.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Venue
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2007-05
- Volume
- 104
- Issue
- 18
- Pages
- 7670-7675
- ISSN
- 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-6490
- PMC
- PMC1863473
- OpenAlex
- W1989630635
- Cited by
- 195
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 4.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Eye Institute (R01 EY12815, R01EY012815)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Keywords
- dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, visual percepts, visual prosthesis, blindness, saccade eye movements, monkeys
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Artificial Organs, Electrodes, Electrophysiology, Female, Macaca, Male, Thalamus, Visual Perception, Reproducibility of Results
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