The present invention provides for a method of selectively activating synaptically mediated responses in ganglion cells without activating passing axons, by contacting a focal region around said cells with an electrode that stimulates using low-frequency sinusoidal electric signal. In particular, the selective low-frequency sinusoidal stimulation has a frequency of ≦25 Hz. specific frequencies of sinusoidal stimulation, which can be used to preferentially activate certain neural cell types, including retinal cells: ganglion cells at 100 Hz, photoreceptors are activated at 5 Hz, and bipolar cells at 25 Hz.
