ABSTRACT
Animal models are common developmental tools for testing peripheral nerve interfaces. However, the complexity of the nerve tissue upon which stimulation is applied, as well as the anatomical differences between animal models and humans, induce great variability regarding the neural response. The use of computer models to study the electrical stimulation of neural systems appears to be an inexpensive and efficient way to tackle this issue and thus assist in the development of neural devices or applications, by exploring the high dimensional space of design parameters while minimizing animal use. The efficacy of neuroprostheses can be improved by increasing the possibility of neural interfaces used to stimulate specific subsets of neurons, while stimulating the untargeted ones, the concept which is measured by the electrode’s selectivity. The use of computer models to study the electrical stimulation of neural systems appears to be an inexpensive, efficient way to assist in the development of neural devices, applications.
