This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31771219, 31871170), the Science and Technology Division of Guangdong (2013KJCX0054), and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (2014A030313418, 2014A030313440).

All animals were paired-housed under standard conditions (12 h light/dark, constant temperature environment, free access to food and water) according to the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology Laboratory Animals Guidelines and experiments were approved by the local ethical committee of Guangzhou University. This is a non-survival procedure.&#160;
NOTE: For data shown in the representative results, APP/PS1 (B6C3-Tg (APPswe, PSEN1dE9) 85Dbo/J) double-transgenic mice and littermate wild-type (WT) controls at 3-5 months of age, were used for recordings (n = 10, per group).
1. Animal anesthesia and surgery
<ol>
	<li>Weigh and anesthetize the mouse by your approved anesthesia regimen from your local animal care committee.&#160;</li>
	<li>Perform a tail or toe pinch with forceps to confirm deep anesthesia prior to surgery.</li>
	<li>Position the mouse in a stereotaxic apparatus and fix its head.</li>
	<li>Apply eye ointment on both eyes to keep moist. Follow your local animal care guidelines regarding pre- and postoperative analgesia.&#160;</li>
	<li>Shave the hair using surgical clippers. Make a small incision (12-15 mm) in the middle of the exposed surgical area with scissors. Using forceps, gently pull the scalp away from the midline.</li>
	<li>Separate the skin gently and remove residual tissue. Clean the skull using hydrogen peroxide-coated cotton buds.</li>
	<li>Drill two small holes of radii 1.0-1.5 mm on both left and right sides of the skull to allow insertion of the recording microelectrodes into the M2 regions under a stereomicroscope (Figure 1A). 
	NOTE: Stereotaxic locations of bilateral M2: 1.94 mm anterior to the bregma, 1.0 mm lateral to the midline, and 0.8-1.1 mm ventral to the dura.</li>
	<li>Remove the dura mater carefully with a tungsten needle.</li>
	<li>Pull glass borosilicate micropipettes (outer diameter: 1.0 mm) as recording microelectrodes with resistance of 1-2 M&#937;.</li>
	<li>Insert two separate recording microelectrodes filled with 0.5 M NaCl into the holes using mechanical micromanipulators (at 60&#176;,&#160;Figure 1B).</li>
</ol>
2.&#160;LFP recordings in bilateral M2 of mice
<ol>
	<li>Lower the left and right glass electrodes slowly into appropriate coordinates of bilateral M2&#160;(Figure 1C).</li>
	<li>For quality control, test the resistance of each electrode using the differential amplifier before capturing LFPs.</li>
	<li>Set the recording process at 0.1 Hz high-pass and 1,000 Hz low-pass with 1,000x amplification.</li>
	<li>Collect digitized&#160;raw LFP data of at least 60 s spontaneous activities in stable state, with mice breathing evenly at a respiratory rate of 2 breaths per second&#160;under anesthesia.</li>
	<li>After recording, slowly raise the electrodes out of the brain, then euthanize the mice by fast cervical dislocation.</li>
	<li>Save the data and analyze offline.</li>
</ol>
3. Cross-correlation analysis
<ol>
	<li>Click Analysis - Waveform correlation in the analysis software and import the data.</li>
	<li>Parameter settings
	<ol>
		<li>Define one waveform channel signal as the first channel and the other as the reference. Set width as 2 and offset as 1 (Figure 2A).</li>
		<li>Set the duration of both LFPs for 100 s by selecting the start time and end time. Press the Process button to perform cross-correlation analysis (Figure 2B). 
		NOTE: Simultaneous bilateral signals with such durations would be long enough to show neuronal spontaneous activities, thereby revealing the basic properties of synchronization.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Click File - Export As, then save the cross-correlation results corresponding to the resulting pop-up chart in .txt format.</li>
	<li>Open the .txt file (Figure 2C), remove the correlation values at time lags ranged 0 &#177; 0.01 s (since two continuous gamma waves have at least 0.01 s interval), then average the rest of the cross-correlation data in the negative time lag part or average the rest of the cross-correlation data in the positive time lag part.</li>
</ol>
4. Coherence analysis
<ol>
	<li>Import and run the data in the analysis software.</li>
	<li>Assign the two LFP signals to be the first and second waveform channels separately. Then set the block size value (Figure 3A). 
	NOTE: Block size means the number of data points used in the FFT. The larger the block size, the better the frequency resolution. Here we recommend setting it as 4096.</li>
	<li>Move the dotted lines manually to ensure the time accuracy for signals in both channels are being set as the same period (Figure 3B). Press the Add Area button to load the area and perform coherence analysis.</li>
	<li>Click File - Save As to save the coherence results corresponding to the resulting pop-up chart in .txt format (Figure 3B).</li>
</ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

We report here the procedure for in vivo bilateral extracellular recording, along with analyzing the synchronization of dual-region LFP signals, which is both flexible and easy to conduct for estimating brain hemisphere lateralization, as well as the connectivity, directionality or coupling between neural activities of two brain areas. This can be widely used to reveal not only group-neuronal activities, but also some basic properties of interregional electrophysiology, especially for labs which are interested i...

Alzheimer&#39;s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia1,2. Extracellular beta amyloid protein (&#946;-amyloid protein, A&#946;) deposition and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are the main pathological features of AD3,4,5, but the mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis remain largely unclear. Cerebral cortex, a key structure in cognition and memory, is impaired in AD6, and motor deficits such as slow walking, difficulty navigating the environment and gait disturbances occur with advancing age7. A&#946; deposition and neurofibrillary tangles have also been observed in the premotor cortex (PMC) and supplementary motor area (SMA) in AD patients8 and cognitively impacted older adults9, indicating the involvement of an impaired motor system in AD pathogenesis.
The brain is formed by two distinct cerebral hemispheres that are divided by a longitudinal fissure. A healthy brain exhibits both structural and functional asymmetries10, which is called &#34;lateralization&#34;, allowing the brain to efficiently deal with multiple tasks and activities. Aging results in a deterioration in cognition and locomotion, together with a reduction in brain laterality11,12. The motor abilities of the left hemisphere are readily apparent in the healthy brain13, but in the AD brain aberrant laterality occurs as a consequence of the failure of left hemisphere dominance associated with left cortical atrophy14,15,16. Therefore, an understanding of a possible alteration of brain lateralization in AD pathogenesis and the underlying mechanisms may provide new insights into AD pathogenesis and lead to identification of potential biomarkers for treatment.
Electrophysiological measurement is a sensitive and effective method of evaluating changes in the neuronal activities of animals. The reduction of hemispheric asymmetry in elders (HAROLD)17 has been documented by electrophysiological research with synchronized interhemispheric transfer time, which shows weakening or absence of hemispheric asymmetry to monaurally presented speech stimuli in the elderly18. Utilizing APP/PS1, one of the most commonly used AD mouse models19,20,21,22, in combination with in vivo bilateral extracellular recording of LFPs in both left and right M2, we evaluated possible laterality deficits in AD. In addition, with simple parameter settings, the built-in function of data analysis software (see the Table of Materials) provides a faster and more straightforward way to analyze the synchronization of electrical signals than mathematically complex programming language, which is friendly to beginners with in vivo electrophysiology.

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		<col />
		<col />
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	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:327px;">AC/DC Differential Amplifier</td>
			<td style="width:261px;">A-M Systems</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">Model 3000</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:327px;">Analog Digital converter</td>
			<td style="width:261px;">Cambridge Electronic Design Ltd.</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">Micro1401</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:327px;">Glass borosilicate micropipettes</td>
			<td style="width:261px;">Nanjing spring teaching experimental equipment company</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">161230</td>
			<td>Outer diameter: 1.0mm</td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:327px;">Microelectrode puller</td>
			<td style="width:261px;">Narishige</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">PC-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:327px;">NaCl</td>
			<td style="width:261px;">Guangzhou Chemical Reagent Factory</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">7647-14-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:327px;">Pin microelectrode holder</td>
			<td style="width:261px;">World Precision Instruments, INC.</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">MEH3SW10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:327px;">Spike2&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:261px;">Cambridge Electronic Design Ltd.</td>
			<td style="width:137px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:327px;">Stereomicroscope</td>
			<td style="width:261px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">435064-9020-000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:327px;">Stereotaxic apparatus&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:261px;">RWD Life Science</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">68045</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:327px;">Urethane</td>
			<td style="width:261px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">94300</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

evaluation of hemisphere lateralization with bilateral local field potential recording in secondary motor cortex of mice

This article demonstrates complete, detailed procedures for both in vivo bilateral recording and analysis of local field potential (LFP) in the cortical areas of mice, which are useful for evaluating possible laterality deficits, as well as for assessing brain connectivity and coupling of neural network activities in rodents. The pathological mechanisms underlying Alzheimer&#39;s disease (AD), a common neurodegenerative disease, remain largely unknown. Altered brain laterality has been demonstrated in aging people, but whether or not abnormal lateralization is one of the early signs of AD has not been determined. To investigate this, we recorded bilateral LFPs in 3-5-month-old AD model mice, APP/PS1, together with littermate wild type (WT) controls. The LFPs of the left and right secondary motor cortex (M2), specifically in the gamma band, were more synchronized in APP/PS1 mice than in WT controls, suggesting a declined hemispheric asymmetry of bilateral M2 in this AD mouse model. Notably, the recording and data analysis processes are flexible and easy to carry out, and can also be applied to other brain pathways when conducting experiments that focus on neuronal circuits.

To see whether early AD pathology impairs the capacity of hemisphere lateralization, we conducted bilateral extracellular LFP recordings in the left and right M2 of APP/PS1 mice and WT controls (aged 3-5 months), and analyzed the cross-correlation of these left and right LFPs. In WT mice, the results demonstrated that the mean correlation between left and right LFPs at positive time lags differed significantly from that at negative time lags, implicating the existence of hemispheric asymmetries in M2 areas of WT controls...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice at JoVE.com

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

We present in vivo electrophysiological recording of the local field potential (LFP) in bilateral secondary motor cortex (M2) of mice, which can be applied to evaluate hemisphere lateralization. The study revealed altered levels of synchronization between the left and right M2 in APP/PS1 mice compared to WT controls.

This article demonstrates complete, detailed procedures for both in vivo bilateral recording and analysis of local field potential (LFP) in the cortical ...

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6.7K Views.  Guangzhou University. We present in vivo electrophysiological recording of the local field potential (LFP) in bilateral secondary motor cortex (M2) of mice, which can be applied to evaluate hemisphere lateralization. The study revealed altered levels of synchronization between the left and right M2 in APP/PS1 mice compared to WT controls.

Video: Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Measuring Motor Coordination in Mice

Mice are increasingly being used in behavioral neuroscience, largely replacing rats as the behaviorist's animal of choice. Before aspects of behavior such as emotionality or cognition can be assessed, however, it is vital to determine whether the motor capabilities of e.g. a mutant or lesioned mouse allow such an assessment. Performance on a maze task requiring strength and coordination, such as the Morris water maze, might well be impaired in a mouse by motor, rather than cognitive, impairments, so it is essential to selectively dissect the latter from the former. For example, sensorimotor impairments caused by NMDA antagonists have been shown to impair water maze performance2. 
Motor coordination has traditionally been assessed in mice and rats by the rotarod test, in which the animal is placed on a horizontal rod that rotates about its long axis; the animal must walk forwards to remain upright and not fall off. Both set speed and accelerating versions of the rotarod are available.
The other three tests described in this article (horizontal bar, static rods and parallel bars) all measure coordination on static apparatus. The horizontal bar also requires strength for adequate performance, particularly of the forelimbs as the mouse initially grips the bar just with the front paws. 
Adult rats do not perform well on tests such as the static rods and parallel bars (personal observations); they appear less well coordinated than mice. I have only tested male rats, however, and male mice seem generally less well coordinated than females. Mice appear to have a higher strength:weight ratio than rats; the Latin name, Mus musculus, seems entirely appropriate. The rotarod, the variations of the foot fault test12 or the Catwalk (Noldus)15 apparatus are generally used to assess motor coordination in rats.

Protocols are presented for two established motor coordination tasks, the accelerating rotarod and horizontal bar, also two tests developed in Oxford recently, the static rods and parallel bars. These tests can detect motor impairments potentially of interest in their own right, as well as being possible variables in tests of other areas of behavior.

Mice are increasingly being used in behavioral neuroscience, largely replacing rats as the behaviorist's animal of choice. Before aspects of behavior such ...

Measuring Spinal Presynaptic Inhibition in Mice By Dorsal Root Potential Recording In Vivo

Presynaptic inhibition is one of the most powerful inhibitory mechanisms in the spinal cord. The underlying physiological mechanism is a depolarization of primary afferent fibers mediated by GABAergic axo-axonal synapses (primary afferent depolarization). The strength of primary afferent depolarization can be measured by recording of volume-conducted potentials at the dorsal root (dorsal root potentials, DRP). Pathological changes of presynaptic inhibition are crucial in the abnormal central processing of certain pain conditions and in some disorders of motor hyperexcitability. Here, we describe a method of recording DRP in vivo in mice. The preparation of spinal cord dorsal roots in the anesthetized animal and the recording procedure using suction electrodes are explained. This method allows measuring GABAergic DRP and thereby estimating spinal presynaptic inhibition in the living mouse. In combination with transgenic mouse models, DRP recording may serve as a powerful tool to investigate disease-associated spinal pathophysiology. In vivo recording has several advantages compared to ex vivo isolated spinal cord preparations, e.g. the possibility of simultaneous recording or manipulation of supraspinal networks and induction of DRP by stimulation of peripheral nerves.

Measuring Spinal Presynaptic Inhibition in Mice By Dorsal Root Potential Recording In Vivo

GABAergic presynaptic inhibition is a powerful inhibitory mechanism in the spinal cord important for motor and sensory signal integration in spinal cord networks. Underlying primary afferent depolarization can be measured by recording of dorsal root potentials (DRP). Here we demonstrate a method of in vivo recording of DRP in mice.

Presynaptic inhibition is one of the most powerful inhibitory mechanisms in the spinal cord. The underlying physiological mechanism is a depolarization of ...

Concurrent Recording of Co-localized Electroencephalography and Local Field Potential in Rodent

Although electroencephalography (EEG) is widely used as a non-invasive technique for recording neural activities of the brain, our understanding of the neurogenesis of EEG is still very limited. Local field potentials (LFPs) recorded via a multi-laminar microelectrode can provide a more detailed account of simultaneous neural activity across different cortical layers in the neocortex, but the technique is invasive. Combining EEG and LFP measurements in a pre-clinical model can greatly enhance understanding of the neural mechanisms involved in the generation of EEG signals, and facilitate the derivation of a more realistic and biologically accurate mathematical model of EEG. A simple procedure for acquiring concurrent and co-localized EEG and multi-laminar LFP signals in the anesthetized rodent is presented here. We also investigated whether EEG signals were significantly affected by a burr hole drilled in the skull for the insertion of a microelectrode. Our results suggest that the burr hole has a negligible impact on EEG recordings.

This protocol describes a simple method for concurrent recording of co-localized electroencephalography (EEG) and multi-laminar local field potential in an anesthetized rat. A burr hole drilled in the skull for the insertion of a microelectrode is shown to produce negligible distortion of the EEG signal.

Although electroencephalography (EEG) is widely used as a non-invasive technique for recording neural activities of the brain, our understanding of the ...

3D Kinematic Analysis for the Functional Evaluation in the Rat Model of Sciatic Nerve Crush Injury

Compared to the Sciatic Functional Index (SFI), kinematic analysis is a more reliable and sensitive method for performing functional evaluations of sciatic nerve injury rodent models. In this protocol, we describe a novel kinematic analysis method that uses a three-dimensional (3D) motion capture apparatus for functional evaluations using a rat sciatic nerve crush injury model. First, the rat is familiarized with treadmill walking. Markers are then attached to the designated bone landmarks and the rat is made to walk on the treadmill at the desired speed. Meanwhile, the posterior limb movements of the rat are recorded using four cameras. Depending on the software used, marker tracings are created using both automatic and manual modes and the desired data are produced after subtle adjustments. This method of kinematic analysis, which uses a 3D motion capture apparatus, offers numerous advantages, including superior precision and accuracy. Many more parameters can be investigated during the comprehensive functional evaluations. This method has several shortcomings that require consideration: The system is expensive, can be complicated to operate, and may produce data deviations due to skin shifting. Nevertheless, kinematic analysis using a 3D motion capture apparatus is useful for performing functional anterior and posterior limb evaluations. In the future, this method may become increasingly useful for generating accurate assessments of various traumas and diseases.

We introduce a kinematic analysis method that uses a three-dimensional motion capture apparatus containing four cameras and data processing software for performing functional evaluations during fundamental research involving rodent models.

Compared to the Sciatic Functional Index (SFI), kinematic analysis is a more reliable and sensitive method for performing functional evaluations of ...

Labeling and Imaging of Amyloid Plaques in Brain Tissue Using the Natural Polyphenol Curcumin

Deposition of amyloid beta protein (A&#946;) in extra- and intracellular spaces is one of the hallmark pathologies of Alzheimer&#39;s disease (AD). Therefore, detection of the presence of A&#946; in AD brain tissue is a valuable tool for developing new treatments to prevent the progression of AD. Several classical amyloid binding dyes, fluorochrome, imaging probes, and A&#946;-specific antibodies have been used to detect A&#946; histochemically in AD brain tissue. Use of these compounds for A&#946; detection is costly and time consuming. However, because of its intense fluorescent activity, high-affinity, and specificity for A&#946;, as well as structural similarities with traditional amyloid binding dyes, curcumin (Cur) is a promising candidate for labeling and imaging of A&#946; plaques in postmortem brain tissue. It is a natural polyphenol from the herb Curcuma longa. In the present study, Cur was used to histochemically label A&#946; plaques from both a genetic mouse model of 5x familial Alzheimer&#39;s disease (5xFAD) and from human AD tissue within a minute. The labeling capability of Cur was compared to conventional amyloid binding dyes, such as thioflavin-S (Thio-S), Congo red (CR), and Fluoro-jade C (FJC), as well as A&#946;-specific antibodies (6E10 and A11). We observed that Cur is the most inexpensive and quickest way to label and image A&#946; plaques when compared to these conventional dyes and is comparable to A&#946;-specific antibodies. In addition, Cur binds with most A&#946; species, such as oligomers and fibrils. Therefore, Cur could be used as the most cost-effective, simple, and quick fluorochrome detection agent for A&#946; plaques.

Curcumin is an ideal fluorophore for labeling and imaging of amyloid beta protein plaques in brain tissue due to its preferential binding to amyloid beta protein as well as its structural similarities with other traditional amyloid binding dyes. It can be used to label and image amyloid beta protein plaques more efficiently and inexpensively than traditional methods.

Deposition of amyloid beta protein (A&#946;) in extra- and intracellular spaces is one of the hallmark pathologies of Alzheimer&#39;s disease (AD). ...

Laser-Induced Brain Injury in the Motor Cortex of Rats

A common technique for inducing stroke in experimental rodent models involves the transient (often denoted as MCAO-t) or permanent (designated as MCAO-p) occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) using a catheter. This generally accepted technique, however, has some limitations, thereby limiting its extensive use. Stroke induction by this method is often characterized by high variability in the localization and size of the ischemic area, periodical occurrences of hemorrhage, and high death rates. Also, the successful completion of any of the transient or permanent procedures requires expertise and often lasts for about 30 minutes. In this protocol, a laser irradiation technique is presented that can serve as an alternative method for inducing and studying brain injury in rodent models.
When compared to rats in the control and MCAO groups, the brain injury by laser induction showed reduced variability in body temperature, infarct volume, brain edema, intracranial hemorrhage, and mortality. Furthermore, the use of a laser-induced injury caused damage to the brain tissues only in the motor cortex unlike in the MCAO experiments where destruction of both the motor cortex and striatal tissues is observed.
Findings from this investigation suggest that laser irradiation could serve as an alternative and effective technique for inducing brain injury in the motor cortex. The method also shortens the time for completing the procedure and does not require expert handlers.

The protocol presented here shows a technique to create a rodent model of brain injury. The method described here uses laser irradiation and targets motor cortex.

A common technique for inducing stroke in experimental rodent models involves the transient (often denoted as MCAO-t) or permanent (designated as MCAO-p) ...

Electrocorticographic Recording of Cerebral Cortex Areas Manipulated Using an Adeno-Associated Virus Targeting Cofilin in Mice

The use of electrocorticographic (ECoG) recordings in rodents is relevant to sleep research and to the study of a wide range of neurological conditions. Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are increasingly used to improve understanding of brain circuits and their functions. The AAV-mediated manipulation of specific cell populations and/or of precise molecular components has been tremendously useful to identify new sleep regulatory circuits/molecules and key proteins contributing to the adverse effects of sleep loss. For instance, inhibiting activity of the filamentous actin-severing protein&#160;cofilin&#160;using AAV prevents sleep deprivation-induced memory impairment. Here, a protocol is&#160;described that combines the manipulation of cofilin function in a cerebral cortex area with the recording of ECoG activity to examine whether cortical cofilin modulates the wakefulness and sleep ECoG signals. AAV injection is performed during the same surgical procedure as the implantation of ECoG and electromyographic (EMG) electrodes in adult male and female mice. Mice are anesthetized, and their heads are shaved. After skin cleaning and incision, stereotaxic coordinates of the motor cortex are determined, and the skull is pierced at this location. A cannula prefilled with an AAV expressing cofilinS3D, an inactive form of cofilin, is slowly positioned in the cortical tissue. After AAV infusion, gold-covered screws (ECoG electrodes) are screwed through the skull and cemented to the skull with gold wires inserted in the neck muscles (EMG electrodes). The animals are allowed three weeks to recover and to ensure sufficient expression of cofilinS3D. The infected area and cell type are verified using immunohistochemistry, and the ECoG is analyzed using visual identification of vigilance states and spectral analysis. In summary, this combined methodological approach allows the investigation of the precise contribution of molecular components regulating neuronal morphology and connectivity to the regulation of synchronized cerebral cortex activity during wakefulness and sleep.

This article describes a protocol for the manipulation of molecular targets in the cerebral cortex using adeno-associated viruses and for monitoring the effects of this manipulation during wakefulness and sleep using electrocorticographic recordings.

The use of electrocorticographic (ECoG) recordings in rodents is relevant to sleep research and to the study of a wide range of neurological conditions. ...

Construction of Local Field Potential Microelectrodes for in vivo Recordings from Multiple Brain Structures Simultaneously

Researchers often need to record local field potentials (LFPs) simultaneously from several brain structures. Recording from multiple desired brain regions requires different microelectrode designs, but commercially available microelectrode arrays often do not offer such flexibility. Here, the present protocol outlines the straightforward design of custom-made microelectrode arrays to record LFPs from multiple brain structures simultaneously at different depths. This work describes the construction of the bilateral cortical, striatal, ventrolateral thalamic, and nigral microelectrodes as an example. The outlined design principle offers flexibility, and the microelectrodes can be modified and customized to record LFPs from any structure by calculating stereotaxic coordinates and quickly changing the construction accordingly to target different brain regions in either freely moving or anesthetized mice. The microelectrode assembly requires standard tools and supplies. These custom microelectrode arrays allow investigators to easily design microelectrode arrays in any configuration to track neuronal activity, providing LFP recordings with millisecond resolution.

Construction of Local Field Potential Microelectrodes for in vivo Recordings from Multiple Brain Structures Simultaneously

The present protocol describes the construction of custom-made microelectrode arrays to record local field potentials in vivo from multiple brain structures simultaneously.

Researchers often need to record local field potentials (LFPs) simultaneously from several brain structures. Recording from multiple desired brain regions ...

Extracellular Electrophysiological Recording in the Motor Cortex of Mice

Multichannel Extracellular Recording in Freely Moving Mice

The protocol aims to uncover the properties of neuronal firing and network local field potentials (LFPs) in behaving mice carrying out specific tasks by correlating the electrophysiological signals with spontaneous and/or specific behavior. This technique represents a valuable tool in studying the neuronal network activity underlying these behaviors. The article provides a detailed and complete procedure for electrode implantation and consequent extracellular recording in free-moving conscious mice. The study includes a detailed method for implanting the microelectrode arrays, capturing the LFP and neuronal spiking signals in the motor cortex (MC) using a multichannel system, and the subsequent offline data analysis. The advantage of multichannel recording in conscious animals is that a greater number of spiking neurons and neuronal subtypes can be obtained and compared, which allows the evaluation of the relationship between a specific behavior and the associated electrophysiological signals. Notably, the multichannel extracellular recording technique and the data analysis procedure described in the present study can be applied to other brain areas when conducting experiments in behaving mice.

Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multichannel Extracellular Recording for Studying Neuronal Activity in Freely Moving Mice 

The protocol describes the methodology of extracellular recording in the motor cortex (MC) to reveal extracellular electrophysiological properties in freely moving conscious mice, as well as the data analysis of local field potentials (LFPs) and spikes, which is useful for evaluating the network neural activity underlying behaviors of interest.

The protocol aims to uncover the properties of neuronal firing and network local field potentials (LFPs) in behaving mice carrying out specific tasks by ...

Chinese Massage Techniques: Enhancing Motor Function in Cerebral Palsy Rats

Abdominal Massage to Improve Motor Dysfunction in Rats with Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disease with a high disability rate and morbidity. The clinical symptoms of cerebral palsy are motor dysfunction and abnormal posture development, often accompanied by cognitive impairment. Massage, a traditional Chinese Medicine therapy, can coordinate Zang and Fu, regulate Qi and blood, make the viscera work more smoothly, and calm Yin and Yang. Furthermore, it has been an effective method for CP in clinical. This paper summarizes a set of simple and standardized manipulations of massage for young rats with CP, which is easy to follow. The procedure follows: first, massage of four limb acupoints, including Quchi (LI11) and Zusanli (ST36); second, massage of the abdomen acupoints Zhongwan (RN12), Tianshu (ST25), Guanyuan (CV4), and Qihai (CV6); and finally, massage of the abdomen of the rats. This set of massage methods considerably improved the motor function of young rats with CP and is simple, standardized, and easy to follow. We adapted this set of manipulation methods in animal models to promote the internationalization and standardization of massage.

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Potential of Massage Therapy in Cerebral Palsy Using Animal Models 

Here, we present a set of massage manipulations in the rat model of cerebral palsy that can considerably improve the motor function of cerebral palsy rats.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disease with a high disability rate and morbidity. The clinical symptoms of cerebral palsy are motor dysfunction and abnormal ...