A new implantable array of ultra-thin electrodes for recording in awake primates

描述(申请人提供)：这项提议的长期目标是为科学界提供一种新的超薄电极阵列，可以长期植入灵长类动物的大脑，并用于长期研究神经元网络。这种新的阵列提供了出色的记录隔离、出色的记录稳定性、最小的组织损伤(神经元可以在同一组织中隔离多年)，以及对不同类型和体细胞大小的相邻细胞进行采样的能力。该阵列有多个紧密间隔的超薄电极，可以通过长期植入的微型微型驱动器独立移动。虽然该阵列已经成功地用于在小动物的大脑中进行记录，但它需要显著的增强才能使其在灵长类大脑中发挥其潜力。这项提议的第一个目标是使这些阵列的电子和机械部件能够抵抗它们在长期植入灵长类动物大脑时必须承受的巨大加速度和力。第二个目标是为阵列提供慢性微电机，使电极能够远程移动。第三个目标是在不影响独立移动电极的能力的情况下增加电极的数量。当这些阵列成功地适应灵长类动物的大脑时，它们将极大地提高在日常记录过程中可以实现的科学生产力。与此同时，它们将使每一种灵长类动物得到更有效的利用，并实现动物研究中的两个重要目标：减少每个研究项目中使用的动物数量，并改进它们的使用(可以在几年的时间内从一小块组织中记录下来)。在这项提议中开发的阵列将为科学界提供一个新的、强大的工具来研究大脑电路。对这种回路的详细了解对于开发治疗影响人类大脑的不同神经和精神障碍是至关重要的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term goal of this proposal is to provide the scientific community with a new array of ultra-thin electrodes that can be chronically implanted in a primate brain and be used to study networks of neurons over long periods of time. This new array provides excellent recording isolation, excellent recording stability, minimum tissue damage (neurons can be isolated within the same piece of tissue for years) and the ability to sample neighboring cells of different types and somata sizes. The array has multiple, closely-spaced, ultra-thin electrodes that can be independently moved with chronically implanted miniature microdrives. While the array has been successfully used for recording in small animal brains, it requires significant enhancements to allow it to fulfill its potential in the primate brain. The first aim of this proposal is to make the electronic and mechanical parts of these arrays resistant to the large accelerations and forces that they will have to bear while being chronically implanted in a primate brain over long periods of time. The second aim is to provide the array with chronic micromotors that will allow moving the electrodes remotely. The third aim is to increase the number of electrodes without compromising the ability to move the electrodes independently. When these arrays are successfully adapted to the primate brain, they will dramatically increase the scientific productivity that can be achieved during daily recording sessions. At the same time, they will allow each primate to be used more efficiently and fulfill two important goals in animal research: to reduce the number of animals used in each research project and refine their use (it is possible to record from a small piece of tissue over a period of several years).The array developed in this proposal will provide the scientific community with a new, powerful tool to study brain circuitry. A detailed knowledge of this circuitry is essential for the development of treatments for the different neurological and psychiatric disorders that affect the human brain.