The purpose of this review of literature is for nurses to understand and utilize sensory stimuli and the impact it has on infant cognition. Emphasis will be placed on the usage of visual, auditory and tactile stimulation on the cognitive development of infants between the ages of O and 6 months based on Piaget's theory of sensorimotor cognition. Introductory passages will focus on the developing brairi from birth until 6 months of age when the peak of myelation occurs. Initiating sensory stimulus during this period of time can ultimately create a positive impact on the growing brain by utilizing the myelation peak. This review will also present possible clinical application for nurses to implement in inpatient hospital settings along with parental education on the possible methods to utilize the findings and implications of this research. Further findings have found that infants respond most effectively to the combination of various stimuli than with one stimulus alone. Utilizing the findings found within the literature may hopefully help provide the evidence needed to support the clinical practice of these results. This research will be conducted through medical and nursing databases with conceptual primary sources that will further expand upon the selected studies on this topic.

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La stimulation cérébrale profonde (SCP) est une procédure chirurgicale utilisée dans le traitement de divers contextes pathologiques. Ce système, composé d’électrodes implantées dans une région cible du cerveau et d’un neurostimulateur reliés par un fil, permet de délivrer un courant électrique dans une région voulue du cerveau. À ce jour, les mécanismes d’action de la SCP et les effets cellulaires qu’elle engendre demeurent mal connus. Cette problématique découle du fait qu’il existe peu de prototypes de micro-stimulation dans le domaine de la recherche, sans compter que ceux-ci ne répondent pas bien aux critères de cette recherche. Mes travaux de maîtrise visaient donc à développer un système de microstimulation pouvant être utilisé chez la souris et de développer et valider toutes les techniques nécessaires à l’implantation de ce système chez la souris. Au terme de ces travaux, nous avons développé un système de micro-stimulation : 1) utilisable chez la souris 2) pour des protocoles de stimulation chronique de longue durée (jusqu’à 1 mois), 3) possédant des paramètres électriques, semblables à ceux utilisés chez l’humain en clinique, 4) pouvant être ajustés à différents contextes pathologiques. Nous avons aussi développé toutes les techniques nécessaires à son implantation chez la souris. Cet outil novateur permettra d’approfondir notre connaissance des mécanismes d’action et des mécanismes cellulaires sous-jacents aux effets de la SCP et pourra mener, à long terme, à l’identification de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques. / Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical procedure used in the treatment of various pathologies. This system, composed of electrodes implanted in a target area in the brain and of a neurostimulator connected by a wire, allows the delivery of an electrical current in a specific area in the brain. To this day, mechanisms of action and cellular effects resulting from DBS remain poorly understood because of a lack of micro-stimulation tools available in the domain and by the fact that these tools do not properly address requirements of this research. To address this challenge, the objectives of my master’s research were to develop a micro-stimulation system usable in mice and to develop and validate required techniques to make this system work in small-sized rodents. Through this study, we have developed a micro-stimulation system that is : 1) usable in mice, 2) able to sustain a long term chronic stimulation (up to 1 month), 3) similar to those used in human in terms of electrical parameters and 4) offering the possibility of adjusting those parameters to various pathological contexts. We also developed the required techniques for its use in mice. This novel tool will allow to deepen our knowledge on the mechanisms of action and cellular mechanisms underlying DBS effects and possibly lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets.

Current industry practices promote therapeutic use of pulsatile stimulation plates to increase muscle mass, strengthen bone density, reduce stress, and improve overall athletic performance of horses. The first objective of this study was to investigate the effect of vibration stimulation on muscle thickness of the extensor carpi radialis, extensor digitorum longus, gluteus medius, longissimus lumborum, semitendinosus, supraspinatus, and longissimus thoracis, as well as circumference and cross-sectional area of the extensor carpi radialis and extensor digitorum longus. The second objective was to evaluate changes in nutrient foramen thickness, circumference, and area, as well as dorsal cortical thickness of the left third metacarpal in response to vibration stimulation exposure over 56 d. Increases in thickness of the topline muscles and improvement of nutrient foramen parameters of treatment horses give evidence to conclude that vibration stimulation may be a viable therapeutic treatment for stock-type horses on stall rest.

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Magnetic nerve stimulation is a non-invasive method of exciting a neural tissue which can be achieved by exposing the body to a transient magnetic field. This field is generated by passing a high current through a coil over a short period of time. By positioning this coil in a specific orientation over the targeted nerve, the time variation of the magnetic field will create an electric field in the conductive milieu of the body. Induced currents will result from that electric field. If those currents reach a certain amplitude within a specific time period this will cause a neural depolarization. This depolarization will enable us to test and examine the excited nerve which will provide us with the necessary data for an effective treatment. In my thesis I will analyse the benefits of magnetic nerve stimulation with the objective of designing a coil that provides a focussed magnetic field. This field will excite the targeted nerve with minimal or to no excitation to the surrounding nerves. This means that we can effectively apply or measure the excitation of the targeted nerve without involving the surrounding nerves. It is my intention to bring this application to a practical platform where a simple circuit with lower power requirements can be used. This will enable some patients requiring physiotherapy to safely administer magnetic nerve stimulation to themselves without the help of a therapist. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

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