In silico retinal prosthesis through electrical stimulation using an organic semiconductor

Abstract

Artificial vision has been achieved experimentally by electrically stimulating the retinal nerves using implanted organic semiconductor prosthesis. This study investigated the process in silico by applying statistical mechanical ensemble and open quantum system formalisms onto an Ising spin chain, which effectively biomimics normal signal transduction within the retina. Results showed that the organic semiconductor implant supplies more than the required voltage for the gated channels to polarize and depolarize. Furthermore, an adaptive mechanism was observed where the voltage supplied by the implant changes in response to the remaining functionality of the retinal layers.