An Electrode Array Net for Brain Slice Studies

现在有可能使微电极阵列能够 每隔一段时间刺激和记录许多神经元 接近神经元本身的尺寸。 阵列 建议提供一个数量级的增加， 超越传统技术的力量， 在未来的一百倍的改善。 技术是基础 神经群体的研究，就像微电极一样， 单细胞研究的基础，并将提供 神经生物学系统 同样，这些工具对于 人类神经假体的发展， 与各种神经子系统的多维交互。 本研究的主要目标是开发平面 电极阵列作为研究用刺激和记录工具 大脑切片的准备 布鲁斯惠勒医生 成功地将平面微电极阵列应用于 海马脑切片制备证明了阵列 使得记录和刺激一个重要的 同时以200微米的间隔测量切片的分数 或者在时间和空间上的任意模式。 许多实验 目前用一个或两个电极完成的， 更大的观测能力来调查可能的状态 不同的切片子区域。 通道数目为 比微驱动器或 操纵者 实验的效率是B的倍数 记录数据的增加和 刺激点，而实验者的效率是由 事实上，所有电极仅仅通过放置 在数组的顶部切片。 阵列的技术优势 不占用切片上方的任何受限空间， 为额外的电极和探针留下刺激的空间， 记录、测量离子浓度和管理药物。 不过， 数组的力量在于它能够给 实验者得到切片活动的二维图像， 控制或刺激它作为一个系统。

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.