Low Voltage Track Lighting Knowledge Base
Where is a good place to get low voltage track lighting fixtures? I just moved into a house that has low voltage track lighting...or at least that's what the guy at Lowe's told me when I showed him one of the lights. I'd like to replace the light fixtures, but Lowe's doesn't carry them. Where is a good place to get these things? I'd like a modern look as opposed to the old can & bulb set up I have.
Low voltage lighting in high humidity areas? I'm thinking about installing a low voltage (12VAC) track lighting system in a bathroom. My only concern is the humidity causing a short. Does anybody have any experience with this?
How do you calculate amp draw on low voltage track light? Hey Yahoo Experts! I have a halogen track light fixture. It uses a transformer to convert 120 vac to 12v. The fixture has 5 20 watt lamps. How do you calculate the amp draw? Maybe I made my question sound like a riddle, but it's not. Since the voltage was stepped down from 120 to 12, which voltage do I use to calulate the amp draw with 5 20 watt bulbs on the fixture. I don't have an amp meter.
Installing Home Depot track lighting - Voltage Question? As the title states, I'm installing a standard track lighting system on my ceiling. It will be wired directly where a previously existing ceiling fan is located. I want it to be dimmable. My question is in the voltage and how I determine if I need a Magnetic Low Voltage Dimmer or a Electronic Low Voltage Dimmer? Which one will make a humming noise or give spikes in the dimming? Links would be great too. Thanks!
Track lighting goes out after 45 mins. Hot ceiling unit? i installed some low voltage track lighting with the flex track and it looks awesome. the problem i am having is it goes out after about 35-45 minutes. the main unit attached to the ceiling box gets very hot. after it cools down it works again. The directions state if something gets hot, it needs to be tightened. the cap for the main ceiling unit snugs up but doesnt sit exactly right on the threads. is this the problem or is it something else? Help!
How do I install Ikea track lighting where traditional track lighting existed previously? My apartment formerly had traditional track lighting, but now all that's left is a live end connector sticking out of the wall (not sure if it's H, J, or L standard); even the track itself is gone. I'm thinking of purchasing Ikea's "Termosfar" track lighting system to use at the same location but am not sure how to figure out what additional parts will be needed to install the low-voltage Ikea system into the existing infrastructure. Help! :-)
120volt AC/DC transformer and a dimmer switch. Trying to run low voltage DC cable lights.? I have these cable lights, similar to track lights but the cable lights are low voltage DC. I bought a 120 volt AC/DC 2.5-25Amp 500watt transformer to power them. I wanted to connect the transformer to a rheostat so I could dim the lights. The rheostat or dimmer switch is connected to the AC side. I have tried multiple types of switches, rheostat and regular. The circuit breaker trips every time I try to turn on the light switch. My guess is that the transformer is drawing too much amperage? 12/2 wire is being used on a 20 amp dedicated circuit and the transfomer has a minimum of 2.5 amps and maximum of 25 amps. I went with the larger transformer because of distances between the two light sets coupled with the distance from the DC power supply. Is it possible to connect the dimmer switch to the DC side? Should the switch have been connected to the DC side in the first place? Are there any other options? I have these cable lights, similar to track lights but the cable lights are low voltage DC. I bought a 120 volt AC/DC 2.5-25Amp 500watt transformer to power them. I wanted to connect the transformer to a rheostat so I could dim the lights. The rheostat or dimmer switch is connected to the AC side. I have tried multiple types of switches, rheostat and regular.The circuit breaker trips every time I try to turn on the light switch.My guess is that the transformer is drawing too much amperage? 12/2 gauge wire is being used on a 20 amp dedicated circuit, the transfomer has a minimum 2.5 amp rating and a maximum of 25 amps. I went with the larger transformer because of distances between the two light sets and the DC power supply. The total combined draw for the two light sets is 300 watts and the maximum output for the transformer on the DC side is 500 watts. So I know that I am not over loading the transformer. What else could be the problem?
What would cause the transformer burn? I have a 12' low voltage flexible ceiling track lighting that maximum of 100 watt total (five 20w halogen was on the track) I installed it about four years ago, and last week the light doesn't come on, so I opened the transformer box and I saw the indication of the black burn mark. I just ordered similar kind and ready to install again. But before I do that I would like to confirm if there is anything I should know about. Any thoughts?
Can I convert a recessed light fixture to power a track light system? My hallway has 5 recessed can lights each with a 75watt bulb operated on the same switch. I would like to install a 5-bulb halogen track light in the middle of the hallway to illuminate wall art. Can I remove the bulb and insert from the middle cannister fixture, cut the wires to the bulb receptacle and use the same wires to power up the track light. The track light with 5 bulbs will consume 150 watts through a low voltage transformer. Is this safe? The cannister light sticker says 75-watts maximum.
Do all Halogen bulbs use low voltage (12V)? I'm asking this as I have just come across some Halogen bulbs (28W) housed in a normal incandescent style bulb (E27), with a screw base from Ikea. If I screwed this into a normal light fitting using 240V, what would happen? As I understand it, all the halogen lighting (table light & track lighting) I have uses an in-built transformer...?? Any answers?
Do I need a bigger breaker than a 20 amp for 8 fixtures? I have 12ft of Cooper Wiring Emarald track lighting Model P6502W, which is 3 tracks put together to reach max allowed length. This contains 9 x 120v-60hz /12v-50w Dimmable Power Supplies. A chandelier with 6 x 40w bulbs. A GE Profile Gas Stove model JGB920. A pendulum 120v 50w. And 2 x 60w bulbs in the garage. I'm not sure if there are any other wall outlets attached to this circuit breaker. The reason I am asking this question, is because I attached a Low Voltage Electronic Dimmer 600w (Cooper Wiring Aspire) to my 12ft track lighting system. However, when the lights are turned on there is a loud buzzing coming from each of the the transformers. I attached an incadecent dimmer (same v and type) to see if my original information was wrong, but this still buzzed, just with a lesser tone. Please help! I have tested the dimmer and it works properly. I also have the luxury on this track system of removing each transformer w/light with just a twist of the wrist. I had already tested the theory of over loading the dimmer by slowly removing each one until there was just one left and it still buzzed loudly. When this track lighting system is on a standard 3 way with no dimmer there is no buzz.... but I would like to control the concentration of light... Thanks for all of your responses... I am not an electrician so that is why I am here to ask for help. I thought that if the breaker was overloaded it would pop... but I have to ask. I feel that there are no dumb questions... just maybe some dumb actions.. I'm trying to avoid those.
Track Lampholders Dying but Bulbs are Fine. Why? there were 5 working lights on an 8' long track and now i'm down to 3. it's taken 5 years for two of them to stop working. they're the cooper halo line, the lazer model with electronic ballasts, low voltage, on a dimmer, on 40 watt halide bulbs. can they be repaired? what's causing them to die?
How do I change an MR-16 halogen bulb on a monorail system? This is really hard to explain, but what I think I have is a low voltage monorail track system. it has several different kinds of lights attached to it. Some are easy to change the bulb as you just pull the bulb out. But 1 of them has a very tiny allen screw that I recall being told I have to unscrew first. So I have the tiny allen wrench. I unscrewed the screw, so now I have access to the bulb, but the bulb wont just pull out. There are 2 tiny holes on each side of the white plastic piece that is covering the MR-16 pins. The wire that comes down from the monorail splits into 2 wires that come down into the top of the white plastic piece.It seems like I would have to stick a pin or something into the side holes that I described to release the bulb? Maybe that is not the case and all I have to do is pull really hard to pull the bulb out, but it seems like it might break if pull with too much force. if you cant figure out what i am describing maybe i can email someone a picture of this.
does the primary o2 sensor have a higher or lower voltage than the secondary o2 sensor? hi everyone, Im just really curious about these things, since i just bought a little car that was fixed for track with a test pipe, since it has no cat. the Secondary Oxygen Sensor is (for some weird reason) strapped to the chassis of the car since the test pipe has no bung for it. Now, my real question is, as stated above, is the primary o2 sensor supposed to have a higher or lower voltage than the secondary o2 sensor. reason is that i am making a little 555 timer simulator but i don't know what voltage to set it at, I currently have it at .6 volts. I want to do this because it gets annoying to have that little check engine light while racing at the track, since later it can get in the way if, lets say, something is REALLY wrong with the engine. if i don't get rid of this code on the computer, ill end up dismissing it thinking that it is just the O2 sensor, and i cant check it since the stupid car's OBD2 port wont work (: () I forgot to mention that i have not wired it into the car to test yet : ) Hi Gary, I am going to correct you where you said that both give the same voltage, they are suppose to give different voltages for the reason that the second o2 sensor is supposed to see a change from when the first o2 checked, since that catalytic converter is supposed to clean some of it up. if there is no change that means that the cat is not working. oh boy seems like ive been a bit misunderstood, i am using a 555 timer that will turn voltage on and of at the rate i choose, ie. once or twice a second. and i can make the voltage vary from .1 to 2 volts so i can choose what i want precisely. I know i will never need to get above .9 volts though
did I get a good deal on this camcorder ( JVC Camcorder GR-AMX17U)? I wanna know if I got a good price on this camcorder. Its a JVC Camcorder GR-AMX17U I payed $61.00 dollars for it on ebay. DID I GET A GOOD DEAL? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Description Item Specifics - Camcorders Type: Analog Condition: Used Format: VHS-C Digital Still Picture Capable: -- Brand: JVC Manufacturer warranty: -- Optical Zoom: 20x Bundled Items: Case, Stereo, Video Cable Product Information Title: JVC Camcorder GR-AMX17U Digital Camera Brand: JVC Digital Camera Type: Camcorder Optical Zoom: 20x Digital Zoom: 800x Perfect gift to capture memories. Literally this has been used TWICE. Perfect Condition. Comes with a Denali Case, rechargeable cord, TV connection and users manual. The GR-AXM17 features a compact stylish design. The 20x's optical zoom, 2.5 inch LCD make this VHS-C camcorder a terrific value. A flying erase head for glitch free start and stops, Digital CNR and TBC for better picture quality, insure you get the best performance. Add the convenience of a 2.5 inch LCD view screen and the camera can be operated from any angle, for maximum comfort. The picture stabilizer gets rid of annoying picture shake. The 800x digital zoom makes sure you don't miss any of the action. When you are done recording, the tapes play back and and can be shared in any VHS video recorder. Features of the JVC GR-AXM17 U Pro-cision 5 video head VHS-C recording system Digital image stabilizer 20X Optical zoom with numeric readout in viewfinder Super LoLux boosts low light sensitivity to less than 1 lux 108 combinations of digital special effects and scene transitions 6 component digital signal processing 7 program AE (twilight / sports / fog / ND effect / sunset / surf and snow / hi-speed shutter 1/2000) Title generator features 8 preset messages in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese Wide mode Tele-macro Manual focus, exposure, and white balance modes Animation and time lapse Quick review and retake function Black fader Digital wipes and fades Maximum shutter speed - 1/2000 Digital auto tracking Multi-voltage AC power adapter / battery charger with built-in battery refresher Shoulder strap, AC power adapter, battery pack and lens cap F1.8 wide-angle lens 1 year parts, 90 days labor warranty 1.7 pounds (770 grams) 8.5 inches (216 millimeters) 4.9 inches (125 millimeters) 3.2 inches (81 millimeters) 3-way power. 6V DC --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
my 92 accord battery voltage with car off is about 13v and on a lil over 14v. my battery light flickers? sometimes, is on all day sometimes, and is off randomly sometimes. I've been trying to track down a short somewhere but dont think i can. the battery never dies or anything and nothing ever dims or loses power. Just wondering if this is early signs of a dieing alternator. also, I dont think this is related, but when I slow down at a light my rpms drop pretty low (about 200 or so), but once i stop they steady out at about 7 or 800.
'92 Buick Regal Issue? My '92 Buick Regal Custom has an issue that is somewhat similar to previous questions. I have a bit more detail than others have had so I am hoping that I get a better response. The motor is a 3.8L. Any answers will help out tremendously. The issue is an intermittent stalling of the engine. The vehicle will run fine for weeks on end then suddenly it will leave me stranded. The pattern seems to be as mostly in town driving, foot off of the accelerator, brake depressed. The car does not shake or shudder, no strange sounds, just silence. Power steering and power brakes are obviously useless. Hazards and dash lights work. Heater blower works. Sometimes the vehicle starts right back up and runs fine. Sometimes it needs to sit for 15-20 minutes. Sometimes it starts but stalls within a time frame of 200 ft or within 5 minutes of restart. I have also had this happen after I have shut the car off. Getting back into the car it may take 20 minutes to start. One thing I have observed a couple times is the cd player will reset to track 1 or turn off completely without being able to be turned on for weeks after-wards, then suddenly it will come on by itself as I am driving down the road. The codes I have had in the past were 17 and 23. 23 is MAT sensor-signal voltage is low or high OR TPS error OR Mixture control solenoid-open or short circuit problems. This code is not currently present. 17 is a hard code, present after reset. It is listed as the following RPM signal problem OR Camshaft sensor- circuit problem OR ECM computer circuit problem- Pull up resistor (Saturn). The camshaft sensor was replaced in Nov. The ECM, I'm not sure how to take that. Does this mean it is only for Saturn or both GM and Satun but only the Saturn with the pull up resistor? Also ALL of the choices seem to me to be very vague. The ECM still has power flowing to it when the car stalls, couldn't all of these thing be attributed to the fact the engine isn't running? I am wondering if a TPS and EGR combination could be causing the stalling. Also this vehicle has been wrecked. There were no problems until then. The gas mileage has decreased tremendously from 28 mpg highway to about 18. I have also noticed that idle is 500 RPM and will fluctuate slightly up and down 100 Rpm. I have read on forums and such of these issues being from TPS to coil packs to ECM. Does anything I have here rule out anything? Thank you in advance for your help.
Car Battery Keeps Going Flat....? i went out yesterday to wash the car, started it and moved her out a little, i got out, then my wife said she needed to get her car out so i had to move the car again (all this happened within minutes) i got back in, and she wouldnt turn over at all, not a peep, she ran flat within 2 minutes??! the digital display came up and it was searching for new radio stations as the memory had been lost. anyway, i got the jump leads out that night, but before i jump started her, i tested the voltage in the battery with an alternator voltage tester, it has 6 lights on it, bottom one being red which is very low, and top one being green very high, the red light came on sying the battery was very low. so i jump started her, reved her up and took her for a drive for about 15 minutes, thinking it was just the weather that caused it, but this afternoon, i took her for a drive, got back, then about an hour later i went to clean her inside, so put a cd on and cleaned away, i had a feeling the battery was going again about an hour later as the dashboard lights and digital display lights were dimming in time to the beats in the tracks i was listening to.and i didnt have i up loud, i went to start her and AGAIN the battery was flat, no peep from the start motor but the cd continued to play with distored sound. its a vauxhall vectra sri t reg, i dont want to disconnect the battery to charge it as if i do then ill have to enter the code for the radio to work, which i dont have as the log book etc was not supplied with the car. i dont know if this is normal, but when i drive the car, i park up, if i turn the key off all the way, the radio still plays and does not got off till i take the key out regardless of how long i wait, it will not go off at all however all other lights etc do? all cars i have had the radio goes off when you turn the car off regardless of the key being in? anyway any help would be great, a new battery is going o cost alot of dosh, any basic checks anyone can recommend?
I need help answering this question pertaining to this science article... Article included, please HELP!!!? I have to read this article and answer this question among many others: How does this information effect your education and your decision for career path that you will pursue? If it helps, Im a junior in high school and I have no clue what career I want to do yet... I have no clue what I should do for this question because I dont really know how to answer it. Please read the short article and see if you can answer it or help me in any way. Thanks and 10 points to best answer. Heres the article for you to read. For over a century, scientists have been using electrical stimulation to explore and treat the human brain. The technique has helped identify regions responsible for specific neural functions-for instance, the motor cortex and pleasure center-and has been used to treat a variety of conditions from Parkinson's disease to depression. Yet no one has been able to see what actually happens at the cellular level when the brain is electrically prodded. Now, with the aid of optical imaging technology, researchers in the lab of HMS neurobiology professor Clay Reid have taken the first look at this process. They found that the neural response to electrical currents isn't localized, as some had previously thought. That is, not all neurons immediately surrounding an electrode fire when a charge is delivered. Rather, a scattered and widely distributed set of neurons switch on. These findings promise to end a longstanding debate about how neurons react to electrical stimulation. Traditionally, observing neurons during electrical stimulation has been problematic. First author Mark Histed, a postdoctoral fellow in Reid's lab, explains, "When you are stimulating electrically you are using relatively high voltages, and those high voltages make it almost impossible to record the very small currents that neurons produce." To sidestep this obstacle, Histed, Reid and postdoctoral fellow Vincent Bonin used a relatively new form of optical imaging called two-photon microscopy. The technique allowed them to track calcium levels in the neurons of mice as they were being exposed to electrical stimulation. When calcium levels increased, a chemical that had been introduced into the tissue brightened. Since calcium levels spike every time a neuron fires, the team could literally see the neurons flash each time they were activated. More importantly, they could monitor which neurons were being triggered. According to Histed, these findings run counter to a long-standing hypothesis. "One prior theory was that at low currents, the neurons in a tiny ball around the electrode would activate, and if you increased the current, a larger ball would activate, but you would still only activate cells within that ball. What we showed was that, even at the lowest currents, you have cells very far away that are activated, so it's not just a tiny ball around the electrode tip that increases in size, but instead a very large, sparse pattern that fills in as the current is increased." The researchers suspect that this sparsely distributed activation pattern results because it's really the axons-the long, thin fibers that transmit electrical signals in the nerve cells-that are being stimulated, not the cell bodies. To prove this, they moved the electrode tip 10 microns from the site of their first stimulations. That's a distance smaller than the width of just one nerve cell. Reid says, "you might guess that the same neurons would light up. But, in fact, the same number of neurons lit up, but they were entirely different neurons, and that really proved to us the hypothesis that we're exciting just a tiny little ball of neural processes, not neurons. We think we're exciting the axons in that 10 micron sphere." The researchers believe that this study establishes optical imaging as a vital tool for any scientific and clinical research that involves electrical brain stimulation. Reid hopes that it will also "be very important in understanding, rationalizing, and designing neural prostheses." Such prostheses are already being used to cure deafness and to treat movement disorders, and Reid's lab has itself conducted research into the use of electrical stimulation to restore vision. This study, by shedding light on how electrical stimulation acts on the brain at the cellular level, could lead to the reinterpretation and refinement of earlier research in the field, and may help guide experiments.
Help with Physics homework! (high school AP)? A beverage glass is filled to the brim with ice-cold water (0ºC) and ice cubes. Some of the ice cubes are floating above the water level. When the ice melts, the water in the glass will A. spill over the brim. B. stay at the same level. C. be less full that before the ice melted. D. no way to tell the level. Which undergoes the greater change in momentum, a golf ball or the head of the golf club when the ball is hit from a golf tee? A. The ball undergoes the greater change. B. the head of the golf club undergoes a greater change. C. Both undergo the same change but in opposite directions. D. The answer depends on how fast the club is moved. From a bridge, a ball is thrown straight up at the same time a ball is thrown straight down with the same initial speed. Neglecting air resistance, which ball would have a greater speed when it hits the ground? A. the ball thrown straight up B. the ball thrown straight down C. both balls would have the same speed D. not enough information to answer Increasing the rate of heating under a pot of boiling water will A. increase the temperature of the boiling water. B. increase the rate of boiling, but not the temperature. C. increase both the rate of boiling and the temperature of the boiling water. D. all of the above. The water in a swimming pool is cooler than the surrounding sidewalk because A. it has a higher specific heat. B. it has weaker attractive forces. C. it loses heat more rapidly D. it has a lower density. Melting one gram of ice at 0ºC requires 80.0 calories of energy. To what approximate height would this same amount of energy lift a 1.0 kg block of wood? A. 34 m B. 8.2 m C. 3.4 m D. 3.4 m All isolated systems will spontaneously tend toward disorder. This phenomenon is referred to as A. thermal inefficiency. B. heat transfer. C. entropy. D. thermal conductivity. Suppose ammonia is spilled in the back of a large room. If there were no air currents, how would the temperature influence how fast you would smell ammonia at the opposite side of the room? A. Warmer air would cause you to smell the ammonia faster. B. Cooler air would cause you to smell the ammonia faster. C. There would be no fumes to smell. D. The temperature does not affect the timing of when you would smell the ammonia. Does the Doppler effect occur when the observer is moving and the source of sound is stationary? A. Yes, the effect is the same. B. No, the source must be moving. C. Yes, but the change of pitch effects is reversed in this case. D. No sound is heard by the observer. During a track and field meet, the time difference between seeing the smoke from a starter's gun and hearing the bang would be less A. on a warmer day. B. on a cooler day. C. if a more powerful shell is used. D. if a less powerful shell is used. The magnetism of a piece of magnetized iron can be weakened by A. heating it. B. striking it. C. dropping it. D. all of the above. When a wire is moving parallel to a magnetic field, A. no current is induced in the wire. B. maximum current is induced in the wire. C. the same current is induced as if it were perpendicular to the field. D. an alternating current is induced. In which type of circuit would you expect a reduction of the available voltage as more and more resistances are added to the circuit? A. series circuit. B. parallel circuit. C. open circuit. D. none of the above is correct. When compared to a –2 charge, there are A. an equal number of field lines pointing inward toward a +4 charge. B. twice as many field lines pointing inward toward a +4 charge. C. twice as many field lines pointing outward from a +4 charge. D. half as many field lines pointing outward from a +4 charge. Which of the following cannot be explained with a wave theory of light? A. polarization B. interference C. photoelectric effect D. all of the above If you are standing in the path of a source of light that is moving toward you, the light you see will look _____ than it would ordinarily. A. redder B. bluer C. brighter D. darker The sky appears to be blue when the sun is high in the sky because A. blue is the color of air, water, and other fluids in large amounts. B. red light is scattered more than blue. C. blue light is scattered more than the other colors. D. none of the above is correct. Light interacts with matter by which process? A. absorption B. reflection C. transmission D. all of the above are correct Transverse mechanical waves can pass through A. solids. B. liquids. C. gases. D. all of the above. An airplane pilot hears a slow beat from the two engines of his plane. He increases the speed of the right engine and now hears a slower beat. What should the pilot now do to eliminate the beat? A. Increase the speed in the left engine B. decrease the speed of the right engine C. increase the speed of bot
I need help answering this question pertaining to this science article... Article included, please HELP!!!? I have to read this article and answer this question among many others: How does this information effect your education and your decision for career path that you will pursue? If it helps, Im a junior in high school and I have no clue what career I want to do yet... I have no clue what I should do for this question because I dont really know how to answer it. Please read the short article and see if you can answer it or help me in any way. Thanks and 10 points to best answer. Heres the article for you to read. For over a century, scientists have been using electrical stimulation to explore and treat the human brain. The technique has helped identify regions responsible for specific neural functions-for instance, the motor cortex and pleasure center-and has been used to treat a variety of conditions from Parkinson's disease to depression. Yet no one has been able to see what actually happens at the cellular level when the brain is electrically prodded. Now, with the aid of optical imaging technology, researchers in the lab of HMS neurobiology professor Clay Reid have taken the first look at this process. They found that the neural response to electrical currents isn't localized, as some had previously thought. That is, not all neurons immediately surrounding an electrode fire when a charge is delivered. Rather, a scattered and widely distributed set of neurons switch on. These findings promise to end a longstanding debate about how neurons react to electrical stimulation. Traditionally, observing neurons during electrical stimulation has been problematic. First author Mark Histed, a postdoctoral fellow in Reid's lab, explains, "When you are stimulating electrically you are using relatively high voltages, and those high voltages make it almost impossible to record the very small currents that neurons produce." To sidestep this obstacle, Histed, Reid and postdoctoral fellow Vincent Bonin used a relatively new form of optical imaging called two-photon microscopy. The technique allowed them to track calcium levels in the neurons of mice as they were being exposed to electrical stimulation. When calcium levels increased, a chemical that had been introduced into the tissue brightened. Since calcium levels spike every time a neuron fires, the team could literally see the neurons flash each time they were activated. More importantly, they could monitor which neurons were being triggered. According to Histed, these findings run counter to a long-standing hypothesis. "One prior theory was that at low currents, the neurons in a tiny ball around the electrode would activate, and if you increased the current, a larger ball would activate, but you would still only activate cells within that ball. What we showed was that, even at the lowest currents, you have cells very far away that are activated, so it's not just a tiny ball around the electrode tip that increases in size, but instead a very large, sparse pattern that fills in as the current is increased." The researchers suspect that this sparsely distributed activation pattern results because it's really the axons-the long, thin fibers that transmit electrical signals in the nerve cells-that are being stimulated, not the cell bodies. To prove this, they moved the electrode tip 10 microns from the site of their first stimulations. That's a distance smaller than the width of just one nerve cell. Reid says, "you might guess that the same neurons would light up. But, in fact, the same number of neurons lit up, but they were entirely different neurons, and that really proved to us the hypothesis that we're exciting just a tiny little ball of neural processes, not neurons. We think we're exciting the axons in that 10 micron sphere." The researchers believe that this study establishes optical imaging as a vital tool for any scientific and clinical research that involves electrical brain stimulation. Reid hopes that it will also "be very important in understanding, rationalizing, and designing neural prostheses." Such prostheses are already being used to cure deafness and to treat movement disorders, and Reid's lab has itself conducted research into the use of electrical stimulation to restore vision. This study, by shedding light on how electrical stimulation acts on the brain at the cellular level, could lead to the reinterpretation and refinement of earlier research in the field, and may help guide experiments.
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