A neuromorphic device mimicking synaptic plasticity under different body fluid K^(+) homeostasis for artificial reflex path construction and pattern recognition

The ionic environment of body fluids influences nervous functions for maintaining homeostasis in organisms and ensures normal perceptual abilities and reflex activities.Neural reflex activities,such as limb movements,are closely associated with potassium ions(K+).In this study,we developed artificial synaptic devices based on ion concentration-adjustable gels for emulating various synaptic plasticities under different K+concentrations in body fluids.In addition to performing essential synaptic functions,potential applications in information processing and associative learning using short-and long-term plasticity realized using ion concentration-adjustable gels are presented.Artificial synaptic devices can be used for constructing an artificial neural pathway that controls artificial muscle reflex activities and can be used for image pattern recognition.All tests show a strong relationship with ion homeostasis.These devices could be applied to neuromorphic robots and human-machine interfaces.

Cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (c-VEMPs) Assessment in Workers with Occupational Acoustic Trauma

It’s well known the noise effect relates to the hearing function while there are a very few studies connected to the vestibular disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate c-VEMPs responses in workers with noise induced hearing loss and exposed to noise in order to prove the possibility of damage in the vestibular via. We examined 60 workers with noise induced hearing loss and 30 office employees. The results highlight an increased latency and a shorter amplitude in workers exposed to noise. We found normal values in the control group. Therefore our data show vestibular damages in workers exposed to noise, thus proving that c-VEMPs represent a simple and not invasive method to identify a possible vestibular dysfunction.

An experimental study of artificial murine bladder reflex arc established by abdominal reflex

Background The neurogenic bladder dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury is difficult to treat clinically. The aim of this research was to establish an artificial bladder reflex arc in rats through abdominal reflex pathway above the level of spinal cord injury, reinnervate the neurogenic bladder and restore bladder micturition.Methods The outcome was achieved by intradural microanastomosis of the right T13 ventral root to S2 ventral root with autogenous nerve grafting, leaving the right T13 dorsal root intact. Long-term function of the reflex arc was assessed from nerve electrophysiological data and intravesical pressure tests during 8 months postoperation. Horseradish peroxidase （HRP） tracing was performed to observe the effectiveness of the artificial reflex.Results Single stimulus （3 mA, 0.3 ms pulses, 20 Hz, 5-second duration） on the right T13 dorsal root resulted in evoked action potentials, raised intravesical pressures and bladder smooth muscle, compound action potential recorded from the right vesical plexus before and after the spinal cord transaction injury between L5 and S4 segmental in 12 Sprague-Dawley rats. There were HRP labelled cells in T13 ventral horn on the experimental side and in the intermediolateral nucleus on both sides of the L6-S4 segments after HRP injection. There was no HRP labelled cell in T13 ventral horn on the control side.Conclusion Using the surviving somatic reflex above the level of spinal cord injury to reconstruct the bladder autonomous reflex arc by intradural microanastomosis of ventral root with a segment of autologous nerve grafting is practical in rats and may have clinical applications for humans.