Name: large-scale recording of neurons by movable silicon probes in behaving rodents
Uploaded: 2012-03-04T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Large-scale Recording of Neurons by Movable Silicon Probes in Behaving Rodents at JoVE.com

Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship (European Union's FP/2007-2013 Grant Agreements #221834 and 254780), J.D. McDonnell Foundation, NSF Grant SBE 0542013, National Institutes of Health Grant NS034994, National Institute of Mental Health Grant MH5467 and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (Janelia Farm Research Campus grant).

1. Construction of the microdrive
All drives are made from the same basic elements: a moving part, which carries the electrode and a fixed part, which is anchored to the skull. An ideal microdrive allows smooth but long enough travel of the electrode in multiple small steps, is sturdy enough to prevent accidental movement of the electrode, easy to manipulate by the experimenter without interfering with the animal's behavior, small in size and light in weight. As a result of these competing requi...

<ol>
	<li>Buzs&#225;ki, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-frequency+network+oscillation+in+the+hippocampus.">High-frequency network oscillation in the hippocampus.</a> Science. 256, 1025-1027 (1992).</li><li>Wilson, M. A., McNaughton, B. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dynamics+of+the+hippocampal+ensemble+code+for+space.">Dynamics of the hippocampal ensemble code for space.</a> Science. 261, 1055-1058 (1993).</li><li>Buzs&#225;ki, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Large-scale+recording+of+neuronal+ensembles.">Large-scale recording of neuronal ensembles.</a> Nat. Neurosci. 7, 446-451 (2004).</li><li>Buzs&#225;ki, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Visualizing+Large-Scale+Patterns+of+Activity+in+the+Brain:+Optical+and+Electrical+Signals.">Visualizing Large-Scale Patterns of Activity in the Brain: Optical and Electrical Signals.</a> Society for Neuroscience. , (2004).</li><li>Nicolelis, M. A. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Methods for Neural Ensemble Recordings. , (2008).</li><li>Hatsopoulos, N. G., Donoghue, J. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+science+of+neural+interface+systems.">The science of neural interface systems.</a> Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 32, 249-266 (2009).</li><li>Battaglia, F. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Lantern:+an+ultra-light+micro-drive+for+multi-tetrode+recordings+in+mice+and+other+small+animals.">The Lantern: an ultra-light micro-drive for multi-tetrode recordings in mice and other small animals.</a> J. Neurosci. Methods. 178, 291-300 (2009).</li><li>Kloosterman, F., Davidson, T. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Micro-drive+Array+for+Chronic+in+vivo+Recording:+Drive+Fabrication.">Micro-drive Array for Chronic in vivo Recording: Drive Fabrication.</a> J. Vis. Exp. 26, e1094-e1094 (2009).</li><li>Nguyen, D. P., Layton, S. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Micro-drive+Array+for+Chronic+in+vivo+Recording:+Tetrode+Assembly.">Micro-drive Array for Chronic in vivo Recording: Tetrode Assembly.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (26), e1098-e1098 (2009).</li><li>Haiss, F., Butovas, S., Schwarz, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+miniaturized+chronic+microelectrode+drive+for+awake+behaving+head+restrained+mice+and+rats.">A miniaturized chronic microelectrode drive for awake behaving head restrained mice and rats.</a> J. Neurosci. Methods. 187, 67-72 (2010).</li><li>Cerf, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=On-line,+voluntary+control+of+human+temporal+lobe+neurons.">On-line, voluntary control of human temporal lobe neurons.</a> Nature. 467, 1104-1108 (2010).</li><li>Kohn, D. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Anesthesia+and+Analgesia+in+Laboratory+Animals.">Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals.</a> American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. series, (1997).</li><li>Schjetnan, A. G. P., Luczak, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Recording+Large-scale+Neuronal+Ensembles+with+Silicon+Probes+in+the+Anesthetized+Rat.">Recording Large-scale Neuronal Ensembles with Silicon Probes in the Anesthetized Rat.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (56), e3282-e3282 (2011).</li><li>Paxinos, G., Watson, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Rat+Brain.">The Rat Brain.</a> Stereotaxic Coordinates. , (1982).</li><li>Harris, K. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Accuracy+of+tetrode+spike+separation+as+determined+by+simultaneous+intracellular+and+extracellular+measurements.">Accuracy of tetrode spike separation as determined by simultaneous intracellular and extracellular measurements.</a> J. Neurophysiol. 84, 401-414 (2000).</li><li>Hazan, L., Zugaro, M., Buzs&#225;ki, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Klusters,+NeuroScope,+NDManager:+a+Free+Software+Suite+for+Neurophysiological+Data+Processing+and+Visualization.">Klusters, NeuroScope, NDManager: a Free Software Suite for Neurophysiological Data Processing and Visualization.</a> J. Neurosci. Methods. 155, 207-216 (2006).</li><li>Kipke, D. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Advanced+neurotechnologies+for+chronic+neural+interfaces:+new+horizons+and+clinical+opportunities.">Advanced neurotechnologies for chronic neural interfaces: new horizons and clinical opportunities.</a> J. Neurosci. 28, 11830-11838 (2008).</li><li>Csicsvari, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Massively+parallel+recording+of+unit+and+local+field+potentials+with+silicon-based+electrodes.">Massively parallel recording of unit and local field potentials with silicon-based electrodes.</a> J. Neurophysiol. 90, 1314-1323 (2003).</li><li>Sodagar, A. M., Wise, K. D., Najafi, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+fully+integrated+mixed-signal+neural+processor+for+implantable+multichannel+cortical+recording.">A fully integrated mixed-signal neural processor for implantable multichannel cortical recording.</a> IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 54, 1075-1088 (2007).</li><li>O'Connor, D. H., Huber, D., Svoboda, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reverse+engineering+the+mouse+brain.">Reverse engineering the mouse brain.</a> Nature. 461, 923-929 (2009).</li><li>Boyden, E. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Millisecond-timescale,+genetically+targeted+optical+control+of+neural+activity.">Millisecond-timescale, genetically targeted optical control of neural activity.</a> Nat. Neurosci. 8, 1263-1268 (2005).</li><li>Zhang, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circuit-breakers:+optical+technologies+for+probing+neural+signals+and+systems.">Circuit-breakers: optical technologies for probing neural signals and systems.</a> Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 8, 577-581 (2007).</li><li>Royer, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multi-array+silicon+probes+with+integrated+optical+fibers:+light-assisted+perturbation+and+recording+of+local+neural+circuits+in+the+behaving+animal.">Multi-array silicon probes with integrated optical fibers: light-assisted perturbation and recording of local neural circuits in the behaving animal.</a> Eur. J. Neurosci. 31, 2279-2291 (2010).</li></ol>

This movie illustrates the implantation procedure of silicon probes for chronic large-scale recordings in the behaving rat. Critical steps to ensure quality recordings of neuronal activity arise from the fragility of both biological (brain tissue) and technical (silicon probe) materials. Special care should be taken while handling the probe to avoid any contact of shanks with any remotely "hard" surface (for example, the shanks would break if one tried to implant them in the brain without removing the dura). Similarly, a...

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Type</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Silicon probe Buzsaki32, 4 shanks x 8 sites. Packaging: flexible polyamide cable</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>NeuroNexus</td>
			<td>Probe: buzsaki32 Packaging: HC32</td>
			<td>Recording probe</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Round Brass Screw, 00-90 x 1/2 Round Brass Screws</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>JIMorris</td>
			<td>R0090B500</td>
			<td>Drive part</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Brass Hex Nut, 00-90</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>JIMorris</td>
			<td>N0090B</td>
			<td>Drive part</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Brass C260 Strip, ASTM-B36 
			Thickness: 0.025", Length: 12", Width: 1/2"</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>Small Parts</td>
			<td>B000FMYU72</td>
			<td>Drive part</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Connector Header, pitch 2mm, male, single row, straigt, 36 positions</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>Digikey</td>
			<td>2163S-36-ND</td>
			<td>Drive part</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2-part Sylgard silicon Elastomer</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td>SYLG184</td>
			<td>To extra-insulate the probe</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Decon Contrad 70 Liquid Detergent</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>04-355 
			Decon Laboratories 
			No.:1002</td>
			<td>To clean the recording sites</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Impedance Conditioning Module</td>
			<td>Equipment</td>
			<td>FHC Inc.</td>
			<td>55-70-0</td>
			<td>Impedance meter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>niPOD &#x2013; 32 channels</td>
			<td>Equipment</td>
			<td>Neuronexus</td>
			<td>niPOD -32</td>
			<td>Impedance meter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Grip Cement Industrial Grade</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>Caulk Dentsply</td>
			<td>675571 (powder) 
			675572 (solvent)</td>
			<td>Grip cement</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate ('DiI'; DiIC18(3))</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>D282</td>
			<td>To stain the probe track in the brain</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stainless Steel Machine Screw, Binding Head, Slotted Drive, #00-90, 1/8" </td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>Small Parts</td>
			<td>MX-0090-02B</td>
			<td>Ground and reference screws</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnet wire, 20G, nylon-polyurethane coating, MW80</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>Small Parts</td>
			<td>B000IJYRP2</td>
			<td>Ground and reference wire</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stainless Steel Machine Screw, Binding Head Slotted Drive, #000-120, 1/16"</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>Small Parts</td>
			<td>MX-000120-01B</td>
			<td>Anchor screws</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N-3 All purpose Flux Liquid</td>
			<td>Reagent</td>
			<td>La-Co (Markal)</td>
			<td>23512</td>
			<td>Allows to solder stainless-steel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MicroGrid Precision Expanded Copper</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>Dexmet</td>
			<td>3 CU6-050 FA</td>
			<td>Copper mesh for on-head Faraday cage</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>C&amp;B-METABOND Quick! Cement System - Dentin Activator</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>Parkell</td>
			<td>S380</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>C&amp;B-METABOND Quick! Cement System &#x2013; Dental cement</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>Parkell</td>
			<td>S380</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sharp point tungsten needle and holder</td>
			<td>Tool</td>
			<td>Roboz Surgical instruments</td>
			<td>RS-6064 and RS-6061</td>
			<td>To make the hook to lift the dura</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Carbide Bur HP 1/4</td>
			<td>Tool</td>
			<td>Henry Schein</td>
			<td>9990013</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraffin (Granules)</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>P31-500</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mineral Oil, Light (NF/FCC)</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>O121-1</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GC ELECTRONICS 10-114 2-Part Epoxy Adhesive</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>Newark</td>
			<td>00Z416</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Type 1 LITZ 21 AWG 40/36 Red Single Polyurethane-Nylon (MW80-C) TO 0.041"+/-0.002" OD</td>
			<td>Material</td>
			<td>New England Wire Technologies Corporation</td>
			<td>N28-36E-400-2</td>
			<td>To make the cable between the headstage and the amplifier</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>32-channel Very Large Scale Integration headstage, 20x gain</td>
			<td>Equipment</td>
			<td>Plexon</td>
			<td>HST/32V-G20</td>
			<td>Headstage</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

large-scale recording of neurons by movable silicon probes in behaving rodents

A major challenge in neuroscience is linking behavior to the collective activity of neural assemblies. Understanding of input-output relationships of neurons and circuits requires methods with the spatial selectivity and temporal resolution appropriate for mechanistic analysis of neural ensembles in the behaving animal, i.e. recording of representatively large samples of isolated single neurons. Ensemble monitoring of neuronal activity has progressed remarkably in the past decade in both small and large-brained animals, including human subjects1-11. Multiple-site recording with silicon-based devices are particularly effective because of their scalability, small volume and geometric design.
Here, we describe methods for recording multiple single neurons and local field potential in behaving rodents, using commercially available micro-machined silicon probes with custom-made accessory components. There are two basic options for interfacing silicon probes to preamplifiers: printed circuit boards and flexible cables. Probe supplying companies (<a href="http://www.neuronexustech.com/" >http://www.neuronexustech.com/</a>; <a href="http://www.sbmicrosystems.com/">http://www.sbmicrosystems.com/</a>; <a href="http://www.acreo.se/">http://www.acreo.se/</a>) usually provide the bonding service and deliver probes bonded to printed circuit boards or flexible cables. Here, we describe the implantation of a 4-shank, 32-site probe attached to flexible polyimide cable, and mounted on a movable microdrive. Each step of the probe preparation, microdrive construction and surgery is illustrated so that the end user can easily replicate the process.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Large-scale Recording of Neurons by Movable Silicon Probes in Behaving Rodents at JoVE.com

Large-scale Recording of Neurons by Movable Silicon Probes in Behaving Rodents

We describe methods for large-scale recording of multiple single units and local field potential in behaving rodents with silicon probes. Drive fabrication, probe attachment to the drive and probe implantation processes are illustrated in sufficient details for easy replication.

A major challenge in neuroscience is linking behavior to the collective activity of neural assemblies. Understanding of input-output relationships of ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Recording Large-scale Neuronal Ensembles with Silicon Probes in the Anesthetized Rat

Large scale electrophysiological recordings from neuronal ensembles offer the opportunity to investigate how the brain orchestrates the wide variety of ...

Retrograde Fluorescent Labeling Allows for Targeted Extracellular Single-unit Recording from Identified Neurons In vivo

Retrograde Fluorescent Labeling Allows for Targeted Extracellular Single-unit Recording from Identified Neurons In vivo

The overall goal of this method is to record single-unit responses from an identified population of neurons. In vivo electrophysiological recordings from ...

Recording and Analysis of Circadian Rhythms in Running-wheel Activity in Rodents

When rodents have free access to a running wheel in their home cage, voluntary use of this wheel will depend on the time of day1-5. Nocturnal rodents, ...

Recording Gamma Band Oscillations in Pedunculopontine Nucleus Neurons

Synaptic efferents from the PPN are known to modulate the neuronal activity of several intralaminar thalamic regions (e.g., the ...

Large-scale Reconstructions and Independent, Unbiased Clustering Based on Morphological Metrics to Classify Neurons in Selective Populations

This protocol outlines large-scale reconstructions of neurons combined with the use of independent and unbiased clustering analyses to create a ...

Quantification of Endosome and Lysosome Motilities in Cultured Neurons Using Fluorescent Probes

In the brain, membrane trafficking systems play important roles in regulating neuronal functions, such as neuronal morphology, synaptic plasticity, ...

Implantation of Chronic Silicon Probes and Recording of Hippocampal Place Cells in an Enriched Treadmill Apparatus

An important requisite for understanding brain function is the identification of behavior and cell activity correlates. Silicon probes are advanced ...

Ratiometric Calcium Imaging of Individual Neurons in Behaving Caenorhabditis Elegans

Ratiometric Calcium Imaging of Individual Neurons in Behaving Caenorhabditis Elegans

It has become increasingly clear that neural circuit activity in behaving animals differs substantially from that seen in anesthetized or immobilized ...

Construction of an Improved Multi-Tetrode Hyperdrive for Large-Scale Neural Recording in Behaving Rats

Monitoring the activity patterns of a large population of neurons over many days in awake animals is a valuable technique in the field of systems ...

Preparations and Protocols for Whole Cell Patch Clamp Recording of Xenopus laevis Tectal Neurons

Preparations and Protocols for Whole Cell Patch Clamp Recording of Xenopus laevis Tectal Neurons

The Xenopus tadpole retinotectal circuit, comprised of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the eye which form synapses directly onto neurons in the optic ...