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Long Term Recordings with Immobile Silicon Probes in the Mouse Cortex
Michael Okun1,2,3, Armin Lak3, Matteo Carandini3
1UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|March 10, 2016
Summary
Immobile silicon probes enable stable, long-term neuronal recordings in mice without microdrives. This straightforward technique reliably captures neuronal activity and individual neuron tuning over months, advancing neuroscience research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Electrophysiology
- Animal Models
Background:
- Extracellular chronic recordings are crucial for neuroscience research in behaving animals.
- Advancements include high-density silicon probes, often used with microdrives for brain penetration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the necessity of microdrives for long-term chronic recordings using silicon probes.
- To assess the stability and quality of recordings from immobile chronic probes.
Main Methods:
- Implantation of immobile chronic silicon probes into the primary visual cortex of mice.
- Recording neuronal activity in both head-fixed and freely moving animals.
- Analysis of spike waveform stability and orientation tuning over several months.
Main Results:
- High-quality neuronal recordings were achieved for several months using immobile probes.
- Well-isolated single units showed reproducible spike waveforms and orientation tuning.
- Stable waveforms were observed in at least 70% of tested neurons across consecutive days, despite minimal electrode drift.
Conclusions:
- Immobile silicon probes offer a simple and effective method for stable, long-term population recordings in mice.
- This technique allows reliable tracking of neuronal population activity and individual neuron dynamics over extended periods.
