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A Procedure for Implanting Organized Arrays of Microwires for Single-unit Recordings in Awake, Behaving Animals
Published on: February 14, 2014
Interference and noise in human intracranial microwire recordings
Christopher K Thorp1, Peter N Steinmetz
1Harrington Department of Bioengineering, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85069-7100, USA. cthorp@devicix.com
IEEE Transactions on Bio-Medical Engineering
|February 20, 2009
Summary
Improving human microwire recordings requires reducing noise. This study identified capacitive coupling to power lines and fluorescent lights as major interference sources, crucial for enhancing signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Signal Processing
Background:
- Human intracranial microwire recordings often suffer from low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), typically below 10 dB.
- Improving SNR necessitates a thorough understanding of noise and interference sources and their coupling mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and quantify major interference sources affecting human intracranial microwire recordings.
- To provide a model for understanding and mitigating noise in neurophysiological recordings.
Main Methods:
- A controlled laboratory model was used to measure interference from common electrical sources.
- Interference from power lines, fluorescent lights, radio transmitters, and other devices was assessed.
- Capacitive coupling and impedance mismatches were key parameters investigated.
Main Results:
- Capacitive coupling to power lines (11.4 microV(rms)) was identified as a primary interference source.
- Capacitive coupling to fluorescent lights (9.7 microV(rms)) and non-power line capacitive interference (8.6 microV(rms)) were also significant.
- These findings were observed under typical impedance (100 kohm) and loop area (30 cm2) conditions.
Conclusions:
- Understanding capacitive coupling is essential for improving SNR in human microwire recordings.
- The developed model and methods can be applied to enhance other neurophysiological recording techniques.
- Mitigating identified interference sources can lead to clearer neural signal acquisition.
