Name: extracellular wire tetrode recording in brain of freely walking insects
Uploaded: 2014-04-01T16:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Extracellular Wire Tetrode Recording in Brain of Freely Walking Insects at JoVE.com

The authors thank Nick Kathman for suggestions and help at preparing for the manuscript. This technique was developed in conjunction with work supported by the AFOSR under grant FA9550-10-1-0054 and the National Science Foundation under Grant No. IOS-1120305 to RER.

1. Preparation of Tetrode Wires
<ol>
	<li>Pull out a very thin nichrome wire (12 &#956;m diameter, PAC coating) of about 1.1 m length. Attach a tape tag to each end. Hang the wire over a horizontal threaded rod such that the two ends are at the same height near the benchtop.</li>
	<li>Repeat step 1.1 for a second wire, making two more ends for a total of 4, and place it next to the first wire (about 1 cm in between).</li>
	<li>Stick the four ends together with a tape tag and attach the tag to a motorized rotating windi...

<ol>
	<li>Strauss, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+central+complex+and+the+genetic+dissection+of+locomotor+behaviour.">The central complex and the genetic dissection of locomotor behaviour.</a> Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 12, 633-638 (2002).</li><li>Pick, S., Strauss, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Goal-driven+behavioral+adaptations+in+gap-climbing+Drosophila.">Goal-driven behavioral adaptations in gap-climbing Drosophila.</a> Curr. Biol. 15, 1473-1478 (2005).</li><li>Triphan, T., Poeck, B., Neuser, K., Strauss, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Visual+targeting+of+motor+actions+in+climbing+Drosophila.">Visual targeting of motor actions in climbing Drosophila.</a> Curr. Biol. 20, 663-668 (2010).</li><li>Heinze, S., Gotthardt, S., Homberg, U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transformation+of+polarized+light+information+in+the+central+complex+of+the+locust.">Transformation of polarized light information in the central complex of the locust.</a> J. Neuorosci. 29, 11783-11793 (2009).</li><li>Heinze, S., Homberg, U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Maplike+representation+of+celestial+E-vector+orientations+in+the+brain+of+an+insect.">Maplike representation of celestial E-vector orientations in the brain of an insect.</a> Science. 315, 995-997 (2007).</li><li>Heinze, S., Homberg, U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuroarchitecture+of+the+central+complex+of+the+desert+locust:+Intrinsic+and+columnar+neurons.">Neuroarchitecture of the central complex of the desert locust: Intrinsic and columnar neurons.</a> J. Comp. Neurol. 511, 454-478 (2008).</li><li>Heinze, S., Homberg, U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Linking+the+input+to+the+output:+new+sets+of+neurons+complement+the+polarization+vision+network+in+the+locust+central+complex.">Linking the input to the output: new sets of neurons complement the polarization vision network in the locust central complex.</a> J. Neurosci. 29, 4911-4921 (2009).</li><li>Heinze, S., Reppert, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sun+compass+integration+of+skylight+cues+in+migratory+monarch+butterflies.">Sun compass integration of skylight cues in migratory monarch butterflies.</a> Neuron. 69, 345-358 (2011).</li><li>Brill, M. F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Parallel+processing+via+a+dual+olfactory+pathway+in+the+honeybee.">Parallel processing via a dual olfactory pathway in the honeybee.</a> J Neurosci. 33, 2443-2456 (2013).</li><li>Guo, P., Ritzmann, R. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neural+activity+in+the+central+complex+of+the+cockroach+brain+is+linked+to+turning+behaviors.">Neural activity in the central complex of the cockroach brain is linked to turning behaviors.</a> J. Exp. Biol. 216, 992-1002 (2013).</li><li>Ritzmann, R. E., Ridgel, A. L., Pollack, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multi-unit+recording+of+antennal+mechanosensitive+units+in+the+central+complex+of+the+cockroach,+Blaberus+discoidalis.">Multi-unit recording of antennal mechanosensitive units in the central complex of the cockroach, Blaberus discoidalis.</a> J. Comp. Physiol. A. 194, 341-360 (2008).</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> Nature Neurosci. 7.5, 446-445 (2004).</li><li>Huston, S. J., Jayaraman, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Studying+sensorimotor+integration+in+insects.">Studying sensorimotor integration in insects.</a> Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 21, 527-534 (2011).</li><li>Bender, J. A., Pollack, A. J., Ritzmann, R. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neural+activity+in+the+central+complex+of+the+insect+brain+is+linked+to+locomotor+changes.">Neural activity in the central complex of the insect brain is linked to locomotor changes.</a> Curr. Biol. 20, 921-926 (2010).</li><li>Harrison, R. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Wireless+Neural/EMG+telemetry+systems+for+small+freely+moving+animals.">Wireless Neural/EMG telemetry systems for small freely moving animals.</a> IEEE. 5, 103-111 (2011).</li><li>Straw, A. D., Dickinson, M. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Motmot,+an+open-source+toolkit+for+realtime+video+acquisition+and+analysis.">Motmot, an open-source toolkit for realtime video acquisition and analysis.</a> Source Code Biol. Med. 4, 5 (2009).</li><li>Tyrer, N. M., Shaw, M. K., Altman, J. S., Strausfeld, N. J., Miller, T. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Neuroanatomical Techniques. Insect Nervous System. , (1980).</li><li>Daly, K., Wright, G., Smith, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+features+of+odorants+systematically+influence+slow+temporal+responses+across+clusters+of+coordinated+antennal+lobe+units+in+the+moth,+Manduca+sexta.">Molecular features of odorants systematically influence slow temporal responses across clusters of coordinated antennal lobe units in the moth, Manduca sexta.</a> J. Neurophsyiol. 92, 236-254 (2004).</li><li>Branson, K., Robie, A., Bender, J., Perona, P., Dickinson, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-throughput+ethomics+in+large+groups+of+Drosophila.">High-throughput ethomics in large groups of Drosophila.</a> Nat Methods. 6, 451-457 (2009).</li></ol>

While previous electrophysiological studies on the CC or other regions of the insect brain have provided us with insights into the central control of behavior, most of them were performed in either restrained preparations9,11 or tethered ones10,14. As a result, the animal&#8217;s sensory experience and physiological state could be very different from those in a natural setting. Furthermore, the behavioral tasks that the animal can perform are limited to one plane under those situations. Here we pres...

This article describes a successful system for recording from neurons within the central complex (CC) of the cockroach, Blaberus discoidalis, &#160;as the insect walks in an arena and deals with objects that cause it to turn around, tunnel under, or climb over obstacles. The wires can also be connected to a stimulator to evoke activity in the surrounding neuropil with consequent behavioral changes.

Over the last decade considerable attention has been directed at the roles played by various brain regions in controlling insect behavior. Much of this focus has been directed toward the midline brain neuropils that are collectively referred to as the central complex (CC). Progress has been made as a result of wide varieties of techniques targeting questions about the role of the CC in behavior. Those techniques range from neurogenetic manipulations, primarily in Drosophila, coupled with behavioral analysis1-3, to electrophysiological techniques that monitor neural activity within the CC and attempt to relate that activity to behaviorally relevant parameters.&#160; &#160;

Electrophysiological&#160; techniques include intracellular recording from individual identified neurons4-9 and extracellular recording, often with multi channel probes10,11. These two techniques are complimentary. Intracellular recording with sharp electrodes or whole cell patch provides very detailed data on identified neurons, but is limited to one or two cells at once, requires limited or no movement, and can be maintained for relatively short periods of time. Extracellular recordings can be easily set up, do not require restraint, and can be maintained for hours. With multi channel tetrodes and cluster cutting, fairly large populations of neurons can be analyzed simultaneously9,12. While whole cell patch has been successfully used in tethered insects13, we feel that there is also a need for techniques that allow us to record neural activity in the brain for long periods of time in freely behaving insects as they deal with barriers to forward movement.

The need to record as the insect moves and bounces up and down pushed us toward extracellular recording methods. We have had good success recording in restrained preparations with commercially available 16 channels silicon probes11, however the small size of even large cockroaches means that the probes have to be mounted off the body. That, coupled with the delicacy of the probe tines, made them inappropriate for a free walking preparation. In two previous projects, we used bundles of fine wires forming a tetrode to accomplish similar recording properties but in a more robust arrangement. These tetrode bundles allowed us to record from tethered cockroaches and relate CC unit activity to changes in walking speed14 and turning behavior resulting from antennal contact with a rod10.

As useful as these tethered preparations have been and will continue to be, they do present some limitations. First, the behaviors that the insect can perform are limited to one plane. That is, we could readily evoke changes in walking speed or turning, but climbing and tunneling actions were not possible, at least with the typical tether arrangement. Second, our tethered preparations are &#8220;open loop&#8221;. That is, they do not allow for normal movement related feedback to the system. Thus, as the cockroach turned on our tether, its visual world was not altered accordingly. It is possible to build closed loop tether systems to introduce this kind of feedback. However, they are limited by the complexity of the programming and hardware of the simulated visual environment. Nevertheless, we felt that we could improve upon our existing tethered recording methods by recording from the animal as it walked freely in an arena or track and encountered objects as it would in its natural surroundings.

Although wireless systems for recording brain activity15 would be ideal, current systems have limitations in the number of recording channels, time of data acquisition, battery life and weight. We, therefore, opted to try to adapt our tethered recording system for use in freely moving preparations. As better wireless systems become available, this technique can be readily adapted to such devices. The system that is described in this article is light weight, works very well and appears to have little deleterious effect on the cockroach&#8217;s behavior. With an inexpensive high speed camera and cluster cutting software, activity in individual brain neurons can be related to movement. Here we describe the preparation of the tetrode wires and their implantation into the insect&#8217;s brain as well as recording techniques for electrical activity and motion and how those data can be brought together for subsequent analysis.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="728">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:207px;">Nichrome wire&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">Sandvik Heating Technology</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">Kanthal RO-800</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">Use for tetrode</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Biomedical polyethylene tubing</td>
			<td>A-M Systems</td>
			<td>800700</td>
			<td>Use for tetrode tubing</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Lynx-8</td>
			<td>Neuralynx</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Use for multi-unit recording</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cheetah 32</td>
			<td>Neuralynx</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Use for multi-unit recording</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">High speed camera</td>
			<td>Basler</td>
			<td>A602f</td>
			<td>Use fir video recording for walking experiments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">High speed camera</td>
			<td>Casio</td>
			<td>EX-FC150&#160;</td>
			<td>Use for video recording for climbing experiments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">WINanalyze</td>
			<td>Winanalyze</td>
			<td>version 1.4 3D</td>
			<td>Use for video tracking&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Matlab</td>
			<td>MathWorks</td>
			<td>MATLAB R2012b</td>
			<td>Use for TTL pulse generation and off-line data analysis</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

extracellular wire tetrode recording in brain of freely walking insects

Increasing interest in the role of brain activity in insect motor control requires that we be able to monitor neural activity while insects perform natural behavior. We previously developed a technique for implanting tetrode wires into the central complex of cockroach brains that allowed us to record activity from multiple neurons simultaneously while a tethered cockroach turned or altered walking speed. While a major advance, tethered preparations provide access to limited behaviors and often lack feedback processes that occur in freely moving animals. We now present a modified version of that technique that allows us to record from the central complex of freely moving cockroaches as they walk in an arena and deal with barriers by turning, climbing or tunneling. Coupled with high speed video and cluster cutting, we can now relate brain activity to various parameters of the movement of freely behaving insects.

We recorded the neural activity of 50 units from the CC in 27 preparations for walking experiments. For 15 of those preparations (23 units), climbing experiments were also performed. Individual units are named according to preparation and unit numbers (e.g. &#699;unit 1-2&#700; indicates preparation 1, unit 2).
Snapshots of the video of one climbing trial are shown in Figure 4. The entire video is available in supplemental Video 1 (The sound is from u...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Extracellular Wire Tetrode Recording in Brain of Freely Walking Insects at JoVE.com

Extracellular Wire Tetrode Recording in Brain of Freely Walking Insects

We previously developed a technique for implanting tetrode wires into the central complex of cockroach brains that allows us to monitor activity in individual units of tethered cockroaches. Here we present a modified version of that technique that allows us to also record brain activity in freely moving insects.

Increasing interest in the role of brain activity in insect motor control requires that we be able to monitor neural activity while insects perform ...

extracellular-wire-tetrode-recording-brain-freely-walking

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

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 individual neurons are critical for understanding how neural circuits function under natural conditions. Traditionally, these recordings have been performed 'blind', meaning the identity of the recorded cell is unknown at the start of the recording. Cellular identity can be subsequently determined via intracellular1, juxtacellular2 or loose-patch3 iontophoresis of dye, but these recordings cannot be pre-targeted to specific neurons in regions with functionally heterogeneous cell types. Fluorescent proteins can be expressed in a cell-type specific manner permitting visually-guided single-cell electrophysiology4-6. However, there are many model systems for which these genetic tools are not available. Even in genetically accessible model systems, the desired promoter may be unknown or genetically homogenous neurons may have varying projection patterns. Similarly, viral vectors have been used to label specific subgroups of projection neurons7, but use of this method is limited by toxicity and lack of trans-synaptic specificity. Thus, additional techniques that offer specific pre-visualization to record from identified single neurons in vivo are needed. Pre-visualization of the target neuron is particularly useful for challenging recording conditions, for which classical single-cell recordings are often prohibitively difficult8-11. The novel technique described in this paper uses retrograde transport of a fluorescent dye applied using tungsten needles to rapidly and selectively label a specific subset of cells within a particular brain region based on their unique axonal projections, thereby providing a visual cue to obtain targeted electrophysiological recordings from identified neurons in an intact circuit within a vertebrate CNS.
The most significant novel advancement of our method is the use of fluorescent labeling to target specific cell types in a non-genetically accessible model system. Weakly electric fish are an excellent model system for studying neural circuits in awake, behaving animals12. We utilized this technique to study sensory processing by "small cells" in the anterior exterolateral nucleus (ELa) of weakly electric mormyrid fish. "Small cells" are hypothesized to be time comparator neurons important for detecting submillisecond differences in the arrival times of presynaptic spikes13. However, anatomical features such as dense myelin, engulfing synapses, and small cell bodies have made it extremely difficult to record from these cells using traditional methods11, 14. Here we demonstrate that our novel method selectively labels these cells in 28% of preparations, allowing for reliable, robust recordings and characterization of responses to electrosensory stimulation.

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

Retrograde transport of fluorescent dye labels a sub-population of neurons based on anatomical projection. Labeled axons can be visually targeted in vivo, permitting extracellular recording from identified axons. This technique facilitates recording when neurons cannot be labeled through genetic manipulation or are difficult to isolate using 'blind' in vivo approaches.

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

Electrophysiological Recording in the Brain of Intact Adult Zebrafish

Previously, electrophysiological studies in adult zebrafish have been limited to slice preparations or to eye cup preparations and electrorentinogram recordings. This paper describes how an adult zebrafish can be immobilized, intubated, and used for in vivo electrophysiological experiments, allowing recording of neural activity. Immobilization of the adult requires a mechanism to deliver dissolved oxygen to the gills in lieu of buccal and opercular movement. With our technique, animals are immobilized and perfused with habitat water to fulfill this requirement. A craniotomy is performed under tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222; tricaine) anesthesia to provide access to the brain. The primary electrode is then positioned within the craniotomy window to record extracellular brain activity. Through the use of a multitube perfusion system, a variety of pharmacological compounds can be administered to the adult fish and any alterations in the neural activity can be observed. The methodology not only allows for observations to be made regarding changes in neurological activity, but it also allows for comparisons to be made between larval and adult zebrafish. This gives researchers the ability to identify the alterations in neurological activity due to the introduction of various compounds at different life stages.

This paper describes how an adult zebrafish can be immobilized, intubated, and used for in vivo electrophysiological experiments to allow recordings and manipulation of neural activity in an intact animal.

Previously, electrophysiological studies in adult zebrafish have been limited to slice preparations or to eye cup preparations and electrorentinogram ...

Recording Single Neurons' Action Potentials from Freely Moving Pigeons Across Three Stages of Learning

While the subject of learning has attracted immense interest from both behavioral and neural scientists, only relatively few investigators have observed single-neuron activity while animals are acquiring an operantly conditioned response, or when that response is extinguished. But even in these cases, observation periods usually encompass only a single stage of learning, i.e. acquisition or extinction, but not both (exceptions include protocols employing reversal learning; see Bingman&#160;et al.1 for an example). However, acquisition and extinction entail different learning mechanisms and are therefore expected to be accompanied by different types and/or loci of neural plasticity.
Accordingly, we developed a behavioral paradigm which institutes three stages of learning in a single behavioral session and which is well suited for the simultaneous recording of single neurons&#39; action potentials. Animals are trained on a single-interval forced choice task which requires mapping each of two possible choice responses to the presentation of different novel visual stimuli (acquisition). After having reached a predefined performance criterion, one of the two choice responses is no longer reinforced (extinction). Following a certain decrement in performance level, correct responses are reinforced again (reacquisition). By using a new set of stimuli in every session, animals can undergo the acquisition-extinction-reacquisition process repeatedly. Because all three stages of learning occur in a single behavioral session, the paradigm is ideal for the simultaneous observation of the spiking output of multiple single neurons. We use pigeons as model systems, but the task can easily be adapted to any other species capable of conditioned discrimination learning.

Recording Single Neurons&#039; Action Potentials from Freely Moving Pigeons Across Three Stages of Learning

Learning new stimulus-response associations engages a wide range of neural processes which are ultimately reflected in changing spike output of individual neurons. Here we describe a behavioral protocol allowing for the continuous registration of single-neuron activity while animals acquire, extinguish, and reacquire a conditioned response within a single experimental session.

While the subject of learning has attracted immense interest from both behavioral and neural scientists, only relatively few investigators have observed ...

Recording EEG in Freely Moving Neonatal Rats Using a Novel Method

EEG is a useful method to detect electrical activity in the brain. Moreover, it is a widely used diagnostic tool for various neurological conditions, such as epilepsy and neurodegenerative disorders. However, it is technically difficult to obtain EEG recordings in neonates as it requires specialized handling and great care. Here, we present a novel method to record EEG in neonatal rat pups (P8-P15). We designed a simple and reliable electrode using computer pin loci; it can be easily implanted into the skull of a rat pup to record high-quality EEG signals in the normal and epileptic brain. Pups were given an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of the neurotoxin kainic acid (KA) to induce epileptic seizures. The surgical implantation performed in this procedure is less expensive than other EEG procedures for neonates. This method allows one to record high-quality and stable EEG signals for more than 1 week. Furthermore, this procedure can also be applied to adult rats and mice to study epilepsy or other neurological disorders.

Here, we introduce a novel technique designed to record electroencephalography (EEG) in freely moving neonatal epileptic pups and describe its procedures, features, and applications. This method allows one to record EEG for more than 1 week.

EEG is a useful method to detect electrical activity in the brain. Moreover, it is a widely used diagnostic tool for various neurological conditions, such ...

Recording Synaptic Plasticity in Acute Hippocampal Slices Maintained in a Small-volume Recycling-, Perfusion-, and Submersion-type Chamber System

Even though experiments on brain slices have been in use since 1951, problems remain that reduce the probability of achieving a stable and successful analysis of synaptic transmission modulation when performing field potential or intracellular recordings. This manuscript describes methodological aspects that might be helpful in improving experimental conditions for the maintenance of acute brain slices and for recording field excitatory postsynaptic potentials in a commercially available submersion chamber with an outflow-carbogenation unit. The outflow-carbogenation helps to stabilize the oxygen level in experiments that rely on the recycling of a small buffer reservoir to enhance the cost-efficiency of drug experiments. In addition, the manuscript presents representative experiments that examine the effects of different carbogenation modes and stimulation paradigms on the activity-dependent synaptic plasticity of synaptic transmission.

This protocol describes the stabilization of the oxygen level in a small volume of recycled buffer and methodological aspects of recording activity-dependent synaptic plasticity in submerged acute hippocampal slices.

Even though experiments on brain slices have been in use since 1951, problems remain that reduce the probability of achieving a stable and successful ...

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 neuroscience. One key component of this technique consists of the precise placement of multiple electrodes into desired brain regions and the maintenance of their stability. Here, we describe a protocol for the construction of a 3D-printable hyperdrive, which includes eighteen independently adjustable tetrodes, and is specifically designed for in vivo extracellular neural recording in freely behaving rats. The tetrodes attached to the microdrives can either be individually advanced into multiple brain regions along the track, or can be used to place an array of electrodes into a smaller area. The multiple tetrodes allow for simultaneous examination of action potentials from dozens of individual neurons, as well as local field potentials from populations of neurons in the brain during active behavior. In addition, the design provides for simpler 3D drafting software that can easily be modified for differing experimental needs.

We present the construction of a 3D-printable hyperdrive with eighteen independently adjustable tetrodes. The hyperdrive is designed to record brain activity in freely behaving rats over a period of several weeks.

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 ...

Recording and Modulation of Epileptiform Activity in Rodent Brain Slices Coupled to Microelectrode Arrays

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common partial complex epileptic syndrome and the least responsive to medications. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising approach when pharmacological treatment fails or neurosurgery is not recommended. Acute brain slices coupled to microelectrode arrays (MEAs) represent a valuable tool to study neuronal network interactions and their modulation by electrical stimulation. As compared to conventional extracellular recording techniques, they provide the added advantages of a greater number of observation points and a known inter-electrode distance, which allow studying the propagation path and speed of electrophysiological signals. However, tissue oxygenation may be greatly impaired during MEA recording, requiring a high perfusion rate, which comes at the cost of decreased signal-to-noise ratio and higher oscillations in the experimental temperature. Electrical stimulation further stresses the brain tissue, making it difficult to pursue prolonged recording/stimulation epochs. Moreover, electrical modulation of brain slice activity needs to target specific structures/pathways within the brain slice, requiring that electrode mapping be easily and quickly performed live during the experiment. Here, we illustrate how to perform the recording and electrical modulation of 4-aminopyridine (4AP)-induced epileptiform activity in rodent brain slices using planar MEAs. We show that the brain tissue obtained from mice outperforms rat brain tissue and is thus better suited for MEA experiments. This protocol guarantees the generation and maintenance of a stable epileptiform pattern that faithfully reproduces the electrophysiological features observed with conventional field potential recording, persists for several hours, and outlasts sustained electrical stimulation for prolonged epochs. Tissue viability throughout the experiment is achieved thanks to the use of a small-volume custom recording chamber allowing for laminar flow and quick solution exchange even at low (1 mL/min) perfusion rates. Quick MEA mapping for real-time monitoring and selection of stimulating electrodes is performed by a custom graphic user interface (GUI).

We illustrate how to perform recording and electrical modulation of 4-aminopyridine-induced epileptiform activity in rodent brain slices using microelectrode arrays. A custom recording chamber maintains tissue viability throughout prolonged experimental sessions. Live electrode mapping and selection of stimulating pairs are performed by a custom graphical user interface.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common partial complex epileptic syndrome and the least responsive to medications. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) ...

Hybrid Microdrive System with Recoverable Opto-Silicon Probe and Tetrode for Dual-Site High Density Recording in Freely Moving Mice

Multi-regional neural recordings can provide crucial information to understanding fine-timescale interactions between multiple brain regions. However, conventional microdrive designs often only allow use of one type of electrode to record from single or multiple regions, limiting the yield of single-unit or depth profile recordings. It also often limits the ability to combine electrode recordings with optogenetic tools to target pathway and/or cell type specific activity. Presented here is a hybrid microdrive array for freely moving mice to optimize yield and a description of its fabrication and reuse of the microdrive array. The current design employs nine tetrodes and one opto-silicon probe implanted in two different brain areas simultaneously in freely moving mice. The tetrodes and the opto-silicon probe are independently adjustable along the dorsoventral axis in the brain to maximize the yield of unit and oscillatory activities. This microdrive array also incorporates a set-up for light, mediating optogenetic manipulation to investigate the regional- or cell type-specific responses and functions of long-range neural circuits. In addition, the opto-silicon probe can be safely recovered and reused after each experiment. Because the microdrive array consists of 3D-printed parts, the design of microdrives can be easily modified to accommodate various settings. First described is the design of the microdrive array and how to attach the optical fiber to a silicon probe for optogenetics experiments, followed by fabrication of the tetrode bundle and implantation of the array into a mouse brain. The recording of local field potentials and unit spiking combined with optogenetic stimulation also demonstrate feasibility of the microdrive array system in freely moving mice.

This protocol describes the construction of a hybrid microdrive array that allows implantation of nine independently adjustable tetrodes and one adjustable opto-silicon probe in two brain regions in freely moving mice. Also demonstrated is a method for safely recovering and reusing the opto-silicon probe for multiple purposes.

Multi-regional neural recordings can provide crucial information to understanding fine-timescale interactions between multiple brain regions. However, ...

Multi-Fiber Photometry to Record Neural Activity in Freely-Moving Animals

Recording the activity of a group of neurons in a freely-moving animal is a challenging undertaking. Moreover, as the brain is dissected into smaller and smaller functional subgroups, it becomes paramount to record from projections and/or genetically-defined subpopulations of neurons. Fiber photometry is an accessible and powerful approach that can overcome these challenges. By combining optical and genetic methodologies, neural activity can be measured in deep brain structures by expressing genetically-encoded calcium indicators, which translate neural activity into an optical signal that can be easily measured. The current protocol details the components of a multi-fiber photometry system, how to access deep brain structures to deliver and collect light, a method to account for motion artifacts, and how to process and analyze fluorescent signals. The protocol details experimental considerations when performing single and dual color imaging, from either single or multiple implanted optic fibers.

This protocol details how to implement and perform multi-fiber photometry recordings, how to correct for calcium-independent artifacts, and important considerations for dual-color photometry imaging.

Recording the activity of a group of neurons in a freely-moving animal is a challenging undertaking. Moreover, as the brain is dissected into smaller and ...

Wireless Electrophysiological Recording of Neurons by Movable Tetrodes in Freely Swimming Fish

The neural mechanisms governing fish behavior remain mostly unknown, although fish constitute the majority of all vertebrates. The ability to record brain activity from freely moving fish would advance research on the neural basis of fish behavior considerably. Moreover, precise control of the recording location in the brain is critical to studying coordinated neural activity across regions in fish brain. Here, we present a technique that records wirelessly from the brain of freely swimming fish while controlling for the depth of the recording location. The system is based on a neural logger associated with a novel water-compatible implant that can adjust the recording location by microdrive-controlled tetrodes. The capabilities of the system are illustrated through recordings from the telencephalon of goldfish.

A novel wireless technique for recording extracellular neural signals from the brain of freely swimming goldfish is presented. The recording device is composed of two tetrodes, a microdrive, a neural data logger, and a waterproof case. All parts are custom-made except for the data logger and its connector.

The neural mechanisms governing fish behavior remain mostly unknown, although fish constitute the majority of all vertebrates. The ability to record brain ...