The sensations produced by electrical stimulation of the visual cortex. 1968

G S Brindley, and W S Lewin

1. An array of radio receivers, connected to electrodes in contact with the occipital pole of the right cerebral hemisphere, has been implanted into a 52-year-old blind patient. By giving appropriate radio signals, the patient can be caused to experience sensations of light (;phosphenes') in the left half of the visual field.2. The sensation caused by stimulation through a single electrode is commonly a single very small spot of white light at a constant position in the visual field; but for some electrodes it is two or several such spots, or a small cloud.3. For weak stimuli the map of the visual field on the cortex agrees roughly with the classical maps of Holmes and others derived from war wounds. With stronger stimuli, additional phosphenes appear; these follow a map that is roughly the classical map inverted about the horizontal meridian.4. The phosphenes produced by stimulation through electrodes 2.4 mm apart can be easily distinguished. By stimulation through several electrodes simultaneously, the patient can be caused to see predictable simple patterns.5. The effects of the duration and frequency of stimulating pulses on the threshold have been explored.6. For cortical phosphenes there is no sharp flicker fusion frequency, and probably no flicker fusion frequency at all.7. During voluntary eye movements, the phosphenes move with the eyes. During vestibular reflex eye movements they remain fixed in space.8. Phosphenes ordinarily cease immediately when stimulation ceases, but after strong stimulation they sometimes persist for up to 2 min.9. Our findings strongly suggest that it will be possible, by improving our prototype, to make a useful prosthesis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008163 Luminescent Measurements Techniques used for determining the values of photometric parameters of light resulting from LUMINESCENCE. Bioluminescence Measurements,Bioluminescent Assays,Bioluminescent Measurements,Chemiluminescence Measurements,Chemiluminescent Assays,Chemiluminescent Measurements,Chemoluminescence Measurements,Luminescence Measurements,Luminescent Assays,Luminescent Techniques,Phosphorescence Measurements,Phosphorescent Assays,Phosphorescent Measurements,Assay, Bioluminescent,Assay, Chemiluminescent,Assay, Luminescent,Assay, Phosphorescent,Assays, Bioluminescent,Assays, Chemiluminescent,Assays, Luminescent,Assays, Phosphorescent,Bioluminescence Measurement,Bioluminescent Assay,Bioluminescent Measurement,Chemiluminescence Measurement,Chemiluminescent Assay,Chemiluminescent Measurement,Chemoluminescence Measurement,Luminescence Measurement,Luminescent Assay,Luminescent Measurement,Luminescent Technique,Measurement, Bioluminescence,Measurement, Bioluminescent,Measurement, Chemiluminescence,Measurement, Chemiluminescent,Measurement, Chemoluminescence,Measurement, Luminescence,Measurement, Luminescent,Measurement, Phosphorescence,Measurement, Phosphorescent,Measurements, Bioluminescence,Measurements, Bioluminescent,Measurements, Chemiluminescence,Measurements, Chemiluminescent,Measurements, Chemoluminescence,Measurements, Luminescence,Measurements, Luminescent,Measurements, Phosphorescence,Measurements, Phosphorescent,Phosphorescence Measurement,Phosphorescent Assay,Phosphorescent Measurement,Technique, Luminescent,Techniques, Luminescent
D008297 Male Males
D008722 Methods A series of steps taken in order to conduct research. Techniques,Methodological Studies,Methodological Study,Procedures,Studies, Methodological,Study, Methodological,Method,Procedure,Technique
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011846 Radio Waves Electromagnetic waves with frequencies between about 3 kilohertz (very low frequency - VLF) and 300,000 megahertz (extremely high frequency - EHF). They are used in television and radio broadcasting, land and satellite communications systems, radionavigation, radiolocation, and DIATHERMY. The highest frequency radio waves are MICROWAVES. Hertzian Waves,High Frequency Waves,Radiowave,Radiowaves,Short Waves,Very High Frequency Waves,Frequency Wave, High,Frequency Waves, High,High Frequency Wave,Radio Wave,Short Wave,Wave, High Frequency,Wave, Radio,Wave, Short,Waves, Hertzian,Waves, High Frequency,Waves, Radio,Waves, Short
D001931 Brain Mapping Imaging techniques used to colocalize sites of brain functions or physiological activity with brain structures. Brain Electrical Activity Mapping,Functional Cerebral Localization,Topographic Brain Mapping,Brain Mapping, Topographic,Functional Cerebral Localizations,Mapping, Brain,Mapping, Topographic Brain
D002540 Cerebral Cortex The thin layer of GRAY MATTER on the surface of the CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES that develops from the TELENCEPHALON and folds into gyri and sulci. It reaches its highest development in humans and is responsible for intellectual faculties and higher mental functions. Allocortex,Archipallium,Cortex Cerebri,Cortical Plate,Paleocortex,Periallocortex,Allocortices,Archipalliums,Cerebral Cortices,Cortex Cerebrus,Cortex, Cerebral,Cortical Plates,Paleocortices,Periallocortices,Plate, Cortical
D004558 Electric Stimulation Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses. Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D005133 Eye Movements Voluntary or reflex-controlled movements of the eye. Eye Movement,Movement, Eye,Movements, Eye
D005425 Flicker Fusion The point or frequency at which all flicker of an intermittent light stimulus disappears. Flicker Fusions,Fusion, Flicker,Fusions, Flicker

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