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A lightweight microdrive for single-unit recording in freely moving rats and pigeons
David K Bilkey1, Noah Russell, Michael Colombo
1Department of Psychology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. sycodkb@otago.ac.nz
Abstract:
A design for an inexpensive and reliable subminiature microdrive for recording single neurons in the freely moving animal is presented. The Scribe microdrive is small and lightweight and has been used successfully to record in freely moving rats and pigeons. It would also be suitable for recording in mice. The device is simple and inexpensive yet allows for stable and precise manipulation of the recording electrodes. As a result it supports stable recordings conducted over long periods. Because the Scribe microdrive is a small-diameter device it is also suitable for multisite, multielectrode applications. Here we discuss the construction of the device and comment on its use in recording from freely moving rats and pigeons.