Xu Shaohua, Talwar Sanjiv K, Hawley Emerson S, Li Lei, Chapin John K
Neural and Behavioral Science Program, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA.
J Neurosci Methods. 2004 Feb 15;133(1-2):57-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2003.09.012.
A system is described that enables an experimenter to remotely deliver electrical pulse train stimuli to multiple different locations in the brains of freely moving rats. The system consists of two separate components: a transmitter base station that is controlled by a PC operator, and a receiver-microprocessor integrated pack worn on the back of the animals and which connects to suitably implanted brain locations. The backpack is small and light so that small animal subjects can easily carry it. Under remote command from the PC the backpack can be configured to provide biphasic pulse trains of arbitrarily specified parameters. A feature of the system is that it generates precise brain-stimulation behavioral effects using the direct constant-voltage TTL output of the backpack microprocessor. The system performs with high fidelity even in complex environments over a distance of about 300 m. Rat self-stimulation tests showed that this system produced the same behavioral responses as a conventional constant-current stimulator. This system enables a variety of multi-channel brain stimulation experiments in freely moving animals. We have employed it to develop a new animal behavior model ("virtual" conditioning) for the neurophysiological study of spatial learning, in which a rat can be accurately guided to navigate various terrains.
本文描述了一种系统，该系统能让实验者向自由活动大鼠大脑中的多个不同位置远程发送电脉冲串刺激。该系统由两个独立部件组成：一个由电脑操作员控制的发射基站，以及一个佩戴在动物背部的接收 - 微处理器集成包，该集成包与适当植入的脑区相连。这个背包小巧轻便，小动物能够轻松背负。在电脑的远程指令下，背包可被配置为提供任意指定参数的双相脉冲串。该系统的一个特点是，它利用背包微处理器的直接恒压TTL输出产生精确的脑刺激行为效应。即使在约300米的复杂环境中，该系统也能高保真运行。大鼠自我刺激测试表明，该系统产生的行为反应与传统恒流刺激器相同。该系统能在自由活动的动物身上进行各种多通道脑刺激实验。我们已利用它开发了一种用于空间学习神经生理学研究的新动物行为模型（“虚拟”条件反射），在这个模型中，大鼠能够被精确引导在各种地形中导航。
