A carbon-fiber electrode array for long-term neural recording.
A carbon-fiber electrode array for long-term neural recording.
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DOI：
10.1088/1741-2560/10/4/046016
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发表时间：
2013-08
影响因子：
4
通讯作者：
Gardner TJ
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Guitchounts G;Markowitz JE;Liberti WA;Gardner TJ
行为动物的慢性神经记录是研究神经回路功能的重要手段。然而，从小而密集的神经元中进行稳定的记录仍然具有挑战性，特别是在与学习相关的时间尺度上。我们描述了一种16通道电极阵列的组装方法，该电极阵列由碳纤维（直径<5 μm）组成，碳纤维分别用聚苯乙烯- c绝缘并火磨。阵列的直径约为26微米，沿着植入物的全部范围。碳纤维阵列在歌唱的斑胸草雀的歌唱运动核HVC（这是一种专有名词）中进行了测试，在那里单个神经元以暂时精确的模式放电。先前关于这类神经元活动的报道要求在可移动的微驱动器上使用高阻抗电极。在这里，碳纤维电极在几个月的时间尺度上提供了稳定的多单元记录。尖峰分选表明多单元信号由一个或少数细胞主导。唱歌时稳定的放电模式证实了这些星团在几个月的时间尺度上的稳定性。此外，在共10次手术中，发现了16个投射神经元。这种细胞类型的特点是稀疏刻板的放电模式，提供了明确的单细胞记录确认。碳纤维电极束可能为密集排列的神经元的长期神经记录提供可扩展的解决方案。
Chronic neural recording in behaving animals is an essential method for studies of neural circuit function. However, stable recordings from small, densely packed neurons remains challenging, particularly over time-scales relevant for learning. We describe an assembly method for a 16 channel electrode array consisting of carbon fibers (<5 μm diameter) individually insulated with Parylene-C and fire-sharpened. The diameter of the array is approximately 26 microns, along the full extent of the implant. Carbon fiber arrays were tested in HVC (used as a proper name), a song motor nucleus, of singing zebra finches where individual neurons discharge with temporally precise patterns. Previous reports of activity in this population of neurons has required the use of high impedance electrodes on movable microdrives. Here, the carbon fiber electrodes provided stable multi-unit recordings over time-scales of months. Spike-sorting indicated that the multi-unit signals were dominated by one, or a small number of cells. Stable firing patterns during singing confirmed the stability of these clusters over time-scales of months. In addition, from a total of 10 surgeries, 16 projection neurons were found. This cell type is characterized by sparse - stereotyped firing firing patterns, providing unambiguous confirmation of single cell recordings. Carbon fiber electrode bundles may provide a scalable solution for long-term neural recordings of densely packed neurons.