Multi-neuron intracellular recording in vivo via interacting autopatching robots

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Robotics
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Neuronal circuit activity underpins brain function and behavior.
• Understanding intracellular processes requires advanced recording techniques.
• Extracellular recordings offer scalability but limited intracellular detail.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel robotic system for automated, simultaneous whole-cell patch clamp recordings from multiple neurons.
• To overcome limitations of traditional electrophysiological methods in capturing intracellular neuronal dynamics.
• To enhance the study of neuronal computations in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Development of the multipatcher, a robotic system guiding four interacting electrodes for coordinated, blind whole-cell patch clamp.
• Implementation of a system to avoid mechanical coupling during recordings in the brain.
• In vivo testing in anesthetized and awake mice, specifically in the cortex.

Main Results:

• The multipatcher successfully obtained dual or triple whole-cell recordings simultaneously.
• Average time to achieve recordings was 10 minutes.
• Success rates were 29% in anesthetized mice and 18% in awake mice, demonstrating practical throughput.

Conclusions:

• The multipatcher significantly advances automated patch clamping for in vivo multi-neuron recordings.
• This technology facilitates the study of complex neuronal circuit activity and intracellular processes.
• Enables scalable investigation of neural computations relevant to behavior and disease states.