High-channel-count, high-density microelectrode array for closed-loop investigation of neuronal networks

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Bioengineering
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Large-scale neural recording is crucial for understanding brain function.
• Existing technologies face limitations in electrode density and data throughput.
• High-resolution neural interfaces are needed for advanced brain-computer interfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-density, planar electrophysiological recording and stimulation system.
• To enable simultaneous recording and stimulation of neural tissue at an unprecedented scale.
• To create a framework for managing and analyzing large neural datasets.

Main Methods:

• Designed a 256x256 electrode array (65,536 electrodes) with 25.5 μm pitch.
• Implemented a low-noise recording chain with high voltage gain and 10-kHz sampling.
• Developed a data processing framework utilizing FPGAs, CPUs, and GPUs for real-time analysis.

Main Results:

• Achieved input-referred noise of 8.66 μV rms over a 100-10k Hz bandwidth.
• Demonstrated simultaneous recording from all electrodes at 10 kHz.
• Generated approximately 1 GB/s of data, enabling comprehensive neural mapping.

Conclusions:

• The developed system offers a powerful platform for large-scale neural interfacing.
• It facilitates high-resolution electrophysiological studies and advanced neural modulation.
• The integrated data handling framework supports near real-time analysis of complex neural data.