An Electrode Array Net for Brain Slice Studies

现在有可能制造微电极阵列，能够以接近神经元本身尺寸的间隔刺激和记录来自许多神经元的信号。与传统技术相比，提出的阵列在观测能力上增加了一个数量级，并有望在未来提高百倍。这项技术是研究神经种群的基础，就像微电极是研究单细胞的基础一样，它将提供神经生物学系统。同样，这些工具对人类神经假体的发展至关重要，人类神经假体必须与各种神经系统有多维交互作用。本研究的主要目标是开发平面电极阵列作为刺激和记录工具，用于脑片制备的研究。Bruce Wheeler博士已经成功地将平面微电极阵列应用到海马脑片的制备中，展示了该阵列使得以200微米的间隔同时或以任意的时间和空间模式记录和刺激脑片的相当大部分成为可能。目前用一个或两个电极进行的许多实验可以用更大的观察能力重复进行，以调查不同切片亚区的可能状态。通道的数量远远超过微驱动器或机械手的可能数量。实验的效率乘以记录数据的增加和刺激点数量的增加，而实验者的效率则得益于这样一个事实，即所有电极只需将切片放在阵列的顶部就可以定位。阵列的技术优势不占用切片上方的任何受限空间，这为刺激、记录、测量离子浓度和给药留下了额外的电极和探头的空间。尽管如此，阵列的力量在于它能够为实验者提供切片活动的二维图像，以及将其作为一个系统进行控制或刺激的能力。

It is now possible to make microelectrode arrays capable of stimulating and recording from many neurons at intervals approaching the dimensions of the neurons themselves. The arrays proposed offer an order of magnitude increase in observational power over conventional techniques, with the promise of hundredfold improvement in the future. The technology is basic to the study of neural populations just as the microelectrode is basic to the study of single cells, and will provide neurobiological systems. Similarly, these tools are critical to the development of human neural protheses which must have multidimensional interaction with various neural subsystems. The primary goal of this research is to develop the planar electrode array as a stimulation and recording tool for research with the brain slice preparation. Dr. Bruce Wheeler has successfully applied a planar microelectrode array to the hippocampal brain slice preparation demonstrating that the array makes it possible to record from and stimulate a significant fraction of the slice at 200 micro meter intervals simultaneously or in an arbitrary pattern in time and space. Many experiments currently done with one or two electrodes can be repeated with much greater observational power to survey the possible the state of the different slice subregions. The number of channels is vastly greater than that possible with microdrives or manipulators. The efficiency of the experiment is multiplied b the increase in recorded data and the increase in the number of stimulus points, while the experimenter's efficiency is aided by the fact that all electrodes ate positioned merely by placing the slice on top of the array. A technical advantage of the array does not occupy any of the restricted space above the slice, this leaving room for additional electrodes and probes to stimulate, record, measure ion concentrations, and administer drugs. Still, the power of the array lies in its ability to give the experimenter a two dimensional image of slice activity and the ability to control or stimulate it as a system.