Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
J Neural Eng. 2011 Aug;8(4):046007. doi: 10.1088/1741-2560/8/4/046007. Epub 2011 May 31.
Direct recording from sequential processing stations within the brain has provided opportunity for enhancing understanding of important neural circuits, such as the corticothalamic loops underlying auditory, visual, and somatosensory processing. However, the common reliance upon microwire-based electrodes to perform such recordings often necessitates complex surgeries and increases trauma to neural tissues. This paper reports the development of titanium-based, microfabricated, microelectrode devices designed to address these limitations by allowing acute recording from the thalamic nuclei and associated cortical sites simultaneously in a minimally invasive manner. In particular, devices were designed to simultaneously probe rat auditory cortex and auditory thalamus, with the intent of recording auditory response latencies and isolated action potentials within the separate anatomical sites. Details regarding the design, fabrication, and characterization of these devices are presented, as are preliminary results from acute in vivo recording.
直接从大脑中的顺序处理站记录提供了增强对重要神经回路理解的机会，例如听觉、视觉和体感处理的皮质丘脑回路。然而，通常依靠基于微丝的电极进行此类记录需要复杂的手术，并增加对神经组织的创伤。本文报告了基于钛的微加工微电极设备的开发，旨在通过以微创方式同时从丘脑核和相关皮质部位进行急性记录来解决这些限制。特别是，这些设备旨在同时探测大鼠听觉皮层和听觉丘脑，目的是记录单独解剖部位的听觉反应潜伏期和分离的动作电位。介绍了这些设备的设计、制造和特性的详细信息，以及急性体内记录的初步结果。
