Psychophysical Evaluation of Cochlear Prostheses in a Monkey Model

Abstract

Functional aspects of cochlear prostheses implanted in the scala tympani were tested in monkeys [Macaca mulatta and M. nemestrina] trained to perform a simple reaction-time task. Thresholds for detection of electrical stimulation and dynamic ranges were tested for a wide range of frequencies of sinusoidal stimulation and for biphasic rectangular pulses of various durations and repetition rates. The results are comparable with implanted human patients and extend these findings, exploring various aspects of electrical stimulation in greater detail.