Laminar responses in the auditory cortex using a multielectrode array substrate for simultaneous stimulation and recording

Abstract

Here, we report the design, fabrication, and characterization of a multielectrode array (MEA) substrate for the use of simultaneous stimulation and recording in vivo. The fabricated substrate has two sharp shanks in which we arranged multiple electrode arrays with surface areas of 50 × 50 µm2 in one shank for stimulation (interelectrode interval, 150 µm) and 15 × 15 µm2 in the other for recording (interelectrode interval, 100 µm). Our impedance measurements show that the electrode values are in good agreement with specified values for silicon‐based commercially available devices or slightly smaller‐sized electrode devices. After electrode characterization, the MEAs were evaluated for simultaneous stimulation and acute neural recording in the mouse auditory cortex in vivo. Using MEA substrates, we recorded spatiotemporal local field potential profiles driven by short local electrical stimulation, particularly to layer 4 of the mouse auditory cortex. Our results demonstrate successful simultaneous stimulation and recordings using the devices in vivo. Indeed, the device may contribute to understanding similarities and differences in local network activity driven by sound stimulation and electric microstimulation in near future work. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Imaging the stability of chronic electrical microstimulation using electrodes coated with PEDOT/CNT and iridium oxide

“…Traditionally, the characterization of efficacious electrical stimulation has been based on in vitro testing ( Kuramochi et al., 2006 ; Allahyari et al., 2016 ), histology ( McCreery et al., 1988 ; Kolarcik et al., 2014 ), electrophysiology ( Bent et al., 2019 ; Obien et al., 2015 ; Takahashi et al., 2019 ), and behavioral assays ( King et al., 2019 ; Flesher et al., 2016 ). While these methods, respectively, provide unique information about the electrical stimulation, they do not allow for direct visualizations of the electrode-tissue interface.…”

Echolocation-related reversal of information flow in a cortical vocalization network

“…Pulse amplitude was selected based on values used in the literature (e.g., refs. 87 – 89 ), and after empirically establishing that electrical artefacts were undetectable in the AC online during recordings. Recordings in AC were conducted with a second A16 shank (as described above); in the AC no electrical stimulation was delivered.…”

Echolocation reverses information flow in a cortical vocalization network

“…Pulse amplitude was selected based on values used in the literature (e.g. 83, 84, 85 ), and after empirically establishing that electrical artefacts were undetectable in the AC online during recordings. Recordings in AC were conducted with a second A16 shank (as described above); in the AC no electrical stimulation was delivered.…”