BPoD has moved!

BPoD has recently changed our domain name - we can now be found at bpod.org.uk

Please update your bookmarks!

Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Sounds Better
03 May 2014

Sounds Better

In most cases, deafness is caused by the loss of hair cells in the inner ear that convert acoustic vibrations into nerve signals. Patients compensate by using cochlear implants with electrodes that stimulate the auditory nerve. But 'bionic ears' don’t restore hearing to normal sensitivity. Now, researchers have upgraded the performance of cochlear implants in guinea pigs by using the devices to deliver gene therapy. Pictured is a CT scan of a guinea pig’s skull with a cochlear implant. Electrical pulses from the implant create tiny holes in target cells, enabling the delivery of a gene that stimulates growth of new auditory nerves. Sure enough, nerve cells grew toward the implant’s electrodes, restoring the intimate connection that had been missing. The result was a dramatic improvement in hearing. If the method works in humans, it could help deaf people to experience something closer to the sharpness of normal hearing.

Written by Daniel Cossins

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.