Electrical neuromodulation offers a promising alternative in treating various neurological conditions, yet understanding precisely how external electric fields interact with neural tissue remains challenging. To overcome this, we develop computational biophysical models of mammalian neurons, exploring mechanisms such as cell coupling and action potential propagation.
Our specific efforts include high-frequency modeling to understand complex nerve responses to rapid stimulation frequencies. We are also actively investigating the modeling of membrane capacitance and its profound influence on neural excitability. By modeling the physiological responses of neural structures and peripheral nerve fibers to electrical stimulation, we can design and optimize superior therapeutic strategies without relying solely on exhaustive empirical trials, making future therapies target-specific and fundamentally safer.
Leo Medina
Principal Investigator
Leo teaches engineering courses at Usach, and his research interests are in the neural engineering and computational neuroscience fields. His work has contributed to understand how nerve fibers respond to electrical stimulation.