Title |
Visual prostheses for the blind
|
---|---|
Published in |
Trends in Biotechnology, August 2013
|
DOI | 10.1016/j.tibtech.2013.07.001 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Robert K. Shepherd, Mohit N. Shivdasani, David A.X. Nayagam, Christopher E. Williams, Peter J. Blamey |
Abstract |
After more than 40 years of research, visual prostheses are moving from the laboratory into the clinic. These devices are designed to provide prosthetic vision to the blind by stimulating localized neural populations in one of the retinotopically organized structures of the visual pathway - typically the retina or visual cortex. The long gestation of this research reflects the many significant technical challenges encountered including surgical access, mechanical stability, hardware miniaturization, hermetic encapsulation, high-density electrode arrays, and signal processing. This review provides an introduction to the pathophysiology of blindness; an overview of existing visual prostheses, their advantages and drawbacks; the perceptual effects evoked by electrical stimulation; as well as the role played by plasticity and training in clinical outcomes. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 3 | 1% |
France | 2 | <1% |
Germany | 1 | <1% |
Russia | 1 | <1% |
Australia | 1 | <1% |
Japan | 1 | <1% |
Spain | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 251 | 96% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 59 | 23% |
Student > Bachelor | 44 | 17% |
Researcher | 39 | 15% |
Student > Master | 34 | 13% |
Student > Postgraduate | 11 | 4% |
Other | 35 | 13% |
Unknown | 39 | 15% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Engineering | 61 | 23% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 34 | 13% |
Neuroscience | 33 | 13% |
Materials Science | 13 | 5% |
Computer Science | 13 | 5% |
Other | 59 | 23% |
Unknown | 48 | 18% |