Large-scale neural ensemble recording in the brains of freely behaving mice

J Neurosci Methods. 2006 Jul 15;155(1):28-38. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2005.12.032. Epub 2006 Mar 22.

Abstract

With the availability of sophisticated genetic techniques, the mouse is a valuable mammalian model to study the molecular and cellular basis of cognitive behaviors. However, the small size of mice makes it difficult for a systematic investigation of activity patterns of neural networks in vivo. Here we report the development and construction of a high-density ensemble recording array with up to 128-recording channels that can be formatted as single electrodes, stereotrodes, or tetrodes. This high-density recording array is capable of recording from hundreds of individual neurons simultaneously in the hippocampus of the freely behaving mice. This large-scale in vivo ensemble recording techniques, once coupled with mouse genetics, should be valuable to the study of complex relationship between the genes, neural network, and cognitive behaviors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Electrodes, Implanted / standards
  • Electrophysiology / instrumentation*
  • Electrophysiology / methods
  • Hippocampus / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Microelectrodes / standards
  • Movement / physiology
  • Nerve Net / physiology
  • Neural Pathways / physiology
  • Neurophysiology / instrumentation*
  • Neurophysiology / methods
  • Pyramidal Cells / physiology*
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation