A movable microelectrode array for chronic basal ganglia single-unit electrocorticogram co-recording in freely behaving rats

Neurol Sci. 2014 Sep;35(9):1429-39. doi: 10.1007/s10072-014-1775-8. Epub 2014 May 17.

Abstract

The basal ganglia-cortical circuits are important for information process to brain function. However, chronic recording of single-unit activities in the basal ganglia nucleus has not yet been well established. We present a movable bundled microwire array for chronic subthalamic nucleus (STN) single-unit electrocorticogram co-recording. The electrode assembly contains a screw-advanced microdrive and a microwire array. The array consists of a steel guide tube, five recording wires and one referenced wire which form the shape of a guiding hand, and one screw electrode for cortico-recording. The electrode can acquire stable cortex oscillation-driven STN firing units in rats under different behaving conditions for 8 weeks. We achieved satisfying signal-to-noise ratio, portions of cells retaining viability, and spike waveform similarities across the recording sections. Using this method, we investigated neural correlations of the basal ganglia-cortical circuits in different behaving conditions. This method will become a powerful tool for multi-region recording to study normal statements or movement disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Basal Ganglia / cytology*
  • Electroencephalography / instrumentation
  • Electroencephalography / methods*
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology*
  • Microelectrodes*
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Wakefulness / physiology*