Perspectives on electrical neural recording: a revisit to the fundamental concepts

This paper aims to promote understanding on the fundamental concepts and mechanisms of extracellular electrical neural recording.

First, the electrode-electrolyte interface is reviewed to clarify some of the frequent misunderstandings. Second, analytical solutions to the extracellular field potential and recorded signal are derived based on equivalent electrical circuit models, using a planar substrate microelectrode as a particular example. And third, factors affecting the recording quality are thoroughly assessed.

Passive neural recording electrodes function as a pure capacitor. The extracellular field potential has two phases, with its subthreshold depolarization phase proportional to the first time derivative of the membrane depolarization and its action potential phase proportional to the negative first time derivative of the intracellular action potential. The recorded signal represents a portion of the extracellular field potential with both amplitude attenuation and phase distortion according to a voltage-divider circuit formed between the recording electrode and amplifier. A larger cell, a larger cell-substrate junctional membrane area, and a tighter membrane-substrate seal all help to improve the recording quality, while the effective electrode impedance should be minimized and the effective amplifier's input impedance maximized.

This paper develops in-depth insights to offer a clear image on the recording mechanism, nature of the signal, and interplays between key interface parameters. This work will make a foundational contribution to the field by providing such an in-depth understanding on this topic to clear the widespread ambiguities and confusions and inform rational neural electrode designs and proper interpretations of neural recordings.