Computational Model of a Pacinian Corpuscle for an Electrical Stimulus: Spike-Rate and Threshold Characteristics

Understanding the response of Pacinian Corpuscle (PC) for an electrical stimulus through a computational model can give better insight into the physiology. Although there are simpler models available in the literature, models simulating spike-rate and threshold characterizations are still missing. These characterizations may lead to the development of tactile displays combining both electrical and mechanical stimuli, especially high-frequency vibrations. We developed a PC model with equivalent circuits of the electrode-skin interface, PC’s neurite, and the first Ranvier node. The input electrical stimulus is a current pulse with varying amplitude (0 to 2 mA) and varying frequency (5 Hz to 1600 Hz). The model is characterized initially for the frequency response, and then the spike-rate and threshold characteristics were simulated. The spike-rate traces for electrical stimuli show the phase-locking phenomenon similar to the mechanical stimuli responses of PC, however the plateau lengths are larger for the spike-rate traces with electrical stimuli compared to that of the mechanical stimuli. This is reflected as a large difference in the threshold characteristics for one and two impulses-per-cycle. Moreover, threshold characteristics are little influenced by the neural noise. This model can be extended to study the combination of electrical and mechanical stimuli.