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Close-Packed Silicon Microelectrodes for Scalable Spatially Oversampled Neural Recording
Jorg Scholvin1, Justin P Kinney1, Jacob G Bernstein1
1MIT Media Lab and McGovern Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
IEEE Transactions on Bio-Medical Engineering
|December 25, 2015
Summary
We developed novel, closely packed silicon microelectrodes for scalable neural recording. These high-density probes enable detailed spatial oversampling of neural activity, advancing brain dynamics research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Bioengineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Neural recording electrodes are crucial for studying brain activity and neural codes.
- Closely packed electrode arrays, like tetrodes, facilitate spatial oversampling for enhanced data analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and implement scalable, close-packed silicon microelectrodes for spatially oversampled neural recordings.
- To enable detailed investigation of neural codes and brain dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication using a hybrid lithography process to create dense recording site arrays.
- Integration of submicron dimension wiring for signal transmission.
Main Results:
- Demonstration of a probe with 1000 electrode pads (9x9 μm) at an 11 μm pitch.
- Development of design automation and packaging methods for versatile probe creation.
Conclusions:
- Successful neural recordings in live mammalian brains using the developed probes.
- Illustration of the significant spatial oversampling potential offered by closely packed electrode sites.
