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Updated: Dec 15, 2025
Optrode Array for Simultaneous Optogenetic Modulation and Electrical Neural Recording
Published on: September 1, 2022
An artefact-resist optrode with internal shielding structure for low-noise neural modulation
Longchun Wang1, Chaofan Ge2,3, Minghao Wang4
1National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Micro/Nano Fabrication Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Thin Film and Micro fabrication of the Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of IFSA, Department of Micro/Nano-electronics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
This study introduces a novel low-noise optrode for optogenetics, significantly reducing signal artefacts. This advancement enables simultaneous high-quality neural recording and precise neuron stimulation for brain research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Optogenetics
Background:
- Combining optical manipulation with electrophysiology is key for brain disorder research and network mapping.
- Traditional fiber-based optrodes are bulky, limiting animal movement.
- Laser diode (LD)-based optrodes suffer from stimulation-locked artefacts that contaminate neural signals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a low-noise optrode capable of mitigating stimulus-locked artefacts during optogenetic stimulation.
- To enhance the quality of neural signal recording for simultaneous stimulation and recording applications.
Main Methods:
- A reformative low-noise optrode design featuring an internal grounded shielding layer was developed.
- Electrode modification with Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) to improve signal quality.
- In-vitro simulations and experiments to verify artefact mitigation, alongside in-vivo optogenetics in a mouse hippocampus.
Main Results:
- Transient amplitude of artefacts reduced from over 5 mV to approximately 200 µV in-vitro.
- High-quality neural recording with a signal-to-noise ratio of about 13 achieved in-vivo.
- Successful simultaneous specific neuron stimulation and neural dynamics recording demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- The proposed low-noise optrode effectively mitigates artefacts, enabling high-fidelity neural recordings.
- This technology is well-suited for optogenetics and advancing neuroscience research.
- The optrode facilitates simultaneous manipulation and recording of neural dynamics.
