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OSERR: an open-source standalone electrophysiology recording system for rodents. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16996. [PMID: 33046761 PMCID: PMC7552399 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73797-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioral assessment of rodents is critical for investigation of brain function in health and disease. In vivo neurophysiological recordings are powerful tools to mechanistically dissect neural pathways that underlie behavioral changes, and serve as markers for dynamics, efficacy and safety of potential therapeutic approaches. However, most in vivo recording systems require tethers or telemetry receivers, limiting their compatibility with some behavioral tests. Here, we developed an open-source standalone electrophysiology recording system for rodents (OSERR). It is a tether-free, standalone recording device with two channels, a reference and a ground, that acquires, amplifies, filters and stores data all in itself. Thus, it does not require any cable or receiver. It is also compact and light-weight, and compatible with juvenile mice, as well as multiple recording modalities and standard electrode implantation methods. In addition, we provide the complete design of hardware, and software for operation. As an example, we demonstrated that this standalone system, when configured with a bandwidth of 1–120 Hz and gain of 1000, successfully collected EEG signals during induced seizure, extended recording, anesthesia, and social interactions in mice. The design of this system is practical, economical, and freely available. Thus, this system could enable recording of brain activity during diverse behavioral assays in a variety of arenas and settings, and allow simultaneous recordings from multiple subjects to examine social behaviors. Importantly, with the open-source documentation, researchers could customize the design of the system to their specific needs.
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2
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van Luijtelaar G, van Oijen G. Establishing Drug Effects on Electrocorticographic Activity in a Genetic Absence Epilepsy Model: Advances and Pitfalls. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:395. [PMID: 32351383 PMCID: PMC7175742 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The genetic rat models such as rats of the WAG/Rij strain and GAERS were developed as models for generalized genetic epilepsy and in particular for childhood absence epilepsy. These animal models were described in the eighties of the previous century and both models have, among others, face, construct and predictive validity. Both models were and are currently used as models to predict the action of antiepileptic medication and other experimental treatments, to elucidate neurobiological mechanisms of spike-wave discharges and epileptogenesis. Although the electroencephalagram (EEG)/electrocorticogram (ECoG) is imperative for establishing absence seizures and to quantify the for absence epilepsy typical spike-wave discharges, monitoring the animals behavior is equally necessary. Here an overview is given regarding the design of drug evaluation studies, which animals to use, classical and new EEG variables, the monitoring and quantification of the behavior of the rats, some pitfalls regarding the interpretation of the data, and some developments in EEG technology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gerard van Oijen
- Donders Centre for Cognition, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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3
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Martinez D, Clément M, Messaoudi B, Gervasoni D, Litaudon P, Buonviso N. Adaptive quantization of local field potentials for wireless implants in freely moving animals: an open-source neural recording device. J Neural Eng 2019; 15:025001. [PMID: 29219118 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/aaa041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Modern neuroscience research requires electrophysiological recording of local field potentials (LFPs) in moving animals. Wireless transmission has the advantage of removing the wires between the animal and the recording equipment but is hampered by the large number of data to be sent at a relatively high rate. APPROACH To reduce transmission bandwidth, we propose an encoder/decoder scheme based on adaptive non-uniform quantization. Our algorithm uses the current transmitted codeword to adapt the quantization intervals to changing statistics in LFP signals. It is thus backward adaptive and does not require the sending of side information. The computational complexity is low and similar at the encoder and decoder sides. These features allow for real-time signal recovery and facilitate hardware implementation with low-cost commercial microcontrollers. MAIN RESULTS As proof-of-concept, we developed an open-source neural recording device called NeRD. The NeRD prototype digitally transmits eight channels encoded at 10 kHz with 2 bits per sample. It occupies a volume of 2 × 2 × 2 cm3 and weighs 8 g with a small battery allowing for 2 h 40 min of autonomy. The power dissipation is 59.4 mW for a communication range of 8 m and transmission losses below 0.1%. The small weight and low power consumption offer the possibility of mounting the entire device on the head of a rodent without resorting to a separate head-stage and battery backpack. The NeRD prototype is validated in recording LFPs in freely moving rats at 2 bits per sample while maintaining an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio (>30 dB) over a range of noisy channels. SIGNIFICANCE Adaptive quantization in neural implants allows for lower transmission bandwidths while retaining high signal fidelity and preserving fundamental frequencies in LFPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Martinez
- Laboratoire Lorrain de Recherche en Informatique et ses Applications (LORIA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7503, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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Zwaka H, Bartels R, Lehfeldt S, Jusyte M, Hantke S, Menzel S, Gora J, Alberdi R, Menzel R. Learning and Its Neural Correlates in a Virtual Environment for Honeybees. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 12:279. [PMID: 30740045 PMCID: PMC6355692 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The search for neural correlates of operant and observational learning requires a combination of two (experimental) conditions that are very difficult to combine: stable recording from high order neurons and free movement of the animal in a rather natural environment. We developed a virtual environment (VE) that simulates a simplified 3D world for honeybees walking stationary on an air-supported spherical treadmill. We show that honeybees perceive the stimuli in the VE as meaningful by transferring learned information from free flight to the virtual world. In search for neural correlates of learning in the VE, mushroom body extrinsic neurons were recorded over days during learning. We found changes in the neural activity specific to the rewarded and unrewarded visual stimuli. Our results suggest an involvement of the mushroom body extrinsic neurons in operant learning in the honeybee (Apis mellifera).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Zwaka
- Department of Biology and Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Ruth Bartels
- Department of Biology and Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sophie Lehfeldt
- Department of Biology and Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Meida Jusyte
- Department of Biology and Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sören Hantke
- Department of Biology and Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon Menzel
- Department of Biology and Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jacob Gora
- Department of Biology and Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rafael Alberdi
- Department of Biology and Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Randolf Menzel
- Department of Biology and Neurobiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Berlin, Germany
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Melo-Thomas L, Engelhardt KA, Thomas U, Hoehl D, Thomas S, Wöhr M, Werner B, Bremmer F, Schwarting RKW. A Wireless, Bidirectional Interface for In Vivo Recording and Stimulation of Neural Activity in Freely Behaving Rats. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 29155767 PMCID: PMC5755324 DOI: 10.3791/56299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In vivo electrophysiology is a powerful technique to investigate the relationship between brain activity and behavior at a millisecond and micrometer scale. However, current methods mostly rely on tethered cable recordings or only use unidirectional systems, allowing either recording or stimulation of neural activity, but not at the same time or same target. Here, a new wireless, bidirectional device for simultaneous multichannel recording and stimulation of neural activity in freely behaving rats is described. The system operates through a single portable head stage that both transmits recorded activity and can be targeted in real-time for brain stimulation using a telemetry-based multichannel software. The head stage is equipped with a preamplifier and a rechargeable battery, allowing stable long-term recordings or stimulation for up to 1 h. Importantly, the head stage is compact, weighs 12 g (including battery) and thus has minimal impact on the animal´s behavioral repertoire, making the method applicable to a broad set of behavioral tasks. Moreover, the method has the major advantage that the effect of brain stimulation on neural activity and behavior can be measured simultaneously, providing a tool to assess the causal relationships between specific brain activation patterns and behavior. This feature makes the method particularly valuable for the field of deep brain stimulation, allowing precise assessment, monitoring, and adjustment of stimulation parameters during long-term behavioral experiments. The applicability of the system has been validated using the inferior colliculus as a model structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liana Melo-Thomas
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-Universität Marburg; Behavioral Neurosciences Institute (INeC);
| | - K-Alexander Engelhardt
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-Universität Marburg
| | | | | | | | - Markus Wöhr
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-Universität Marburg
| | - Bjoern Werner
- Department of Neurophysics, Philipps-Universität Marburg
| | - Frank Bremmer
- Department of Neurophysics, Philipps-Universität Marburg
| | - Rainer K W Schwarting
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-Universität Marburg
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6
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Limnuson K, Narayan RK, Chiluwal A, Golanov EV, Bouton CE, Li C. A User-Configurable Headstage for Multimodality Neuromonitoring in Freely Moving Rats. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:382. [PMID: 27594826 PMCID: PMC4990626 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Multimodal monitoring of brain activity, physiology, and neurochemistry is an important approach to gain insight into brain function, modulation, and pathology. With recent progress in micro- and nanotechnology, micro-nano-implants have become important catalysts in advancing brain research. However, to date, only a limited number of brain parameters have been measured simultaneously in awake animals in spite of significant recent progress in sensor technology. Here we have provided a cost and time effective approach to designing a headstage to conduct a multimodality brain monitoring in freely moving animals. To demonstrate this method, we have designed a user-configurable headstage for our micromachined multimodal neural probe. The headstage can reliably record direct-current electrocorticography (DC-ECoG), brain oxygen tension (PbrO2), cortical temperature, and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) simultaneously without significant signal crosstalk or movement artifacts for 72 h. Even in a noisy environment, it can record low-level neural signals with high quality. Moreover, it can easily interface with signal conditioning circuits that have high power consumption and are difficult to miniaturize. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time where multiple physiological, biochemical, and electrophysiological cerebral variables have been simultaneously recorded from freely moving rats. We anticipate that the developed system will aid in gaining further insight into not only normal cerebral functioning but also pathophysiology of conditions such as epilepsy, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanokwan Limnuson
- Cushing Neuromonitoring Laboratory, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Raj K Narayan
- Cushing Neuromonitoring Laboratory, The Feinstein Institute for Medical ResearchManhasset, NY, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Hofstra Northwell School of MedicineHempstead, NY, USA
| | - Amrit Chiluwal
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Eugene V Golanov
- Cushing Neuromonitoring Laboratory, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Chad E Bouton
- Center for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Chunyan Li
- Cushing Neuromonitoring Laboratory, The Feinstein Institute for Medical ResearchManhasset, NY, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Hofstra Northwell School of MedicineHempstead, NY, USA; Center for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institute for Medical ResearchManhasset, NY, USA
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Weiergräber M, Papazoglou A, Broich K, Müller R. Sampling rate, signal bandwidth and related pitfalls in EEG analysis. J Neurosci Methods 2016; 268:53-5. [PMID: 27172844 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2016.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Revised: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
This submission contains a commentary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Weiergräber
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Kurt-Georg-Kiesinger-Allee 3, 53175 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Anna Papazoglou
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Kurt-Georg-Kiesinger-Allee 3, 53175 Bonn, Germany
| | - Karl Broich
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Kurt-Georg-Kiesinger-Allee 3, 53175 Bonn, Germany
| | - Ralf Müller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, Kerpener-Str. 62, Cologne, Germany
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Hasegawa T, Fujimoto H, Tashiro K, Nonomura M, Tsuchiya A, Watanabe D. A wireless neural recording system with a precision motorized microdrive for freely behaving animals. Sci Rep 2015; 5:7853. [PMID: 25597933 PMCID: PMC4297970 DOI: 10.1038/srep07853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain is composed of many different types of neurons. Therefore, analysis of brain activity with single-cell resolution could provide fundamental insights into brain mechanisms. However, the electrical signal of an individual neuron is very small, and precise isolation of single neuronal activity from moving subjects is still challenging. To measure single-unit signals in actively behaving states, establishment of technologies that enable fine control of electrode positioning and strict spike sorting is essential. To further apply such a single-cell recording approach to small brain areas in naturally behaving animals in large spaces or during social interaction, we developed a compact wireless recording system with a motorized microdrive. Wireless control of electrode placement facilitates the exploration of single neuronal activity without affecting animal behaviors. Because the system is equipped with a newly developed data-encoding program, the recorded data are readily compressed almost to theoretical limits and securely transmitted to a host computer. Brain activity can thereby be stably monitored in real time and further analyzed using online or offline spike sorting. Our wireless recording approach using a precision motorized microdrive will become a powerful tool for studying brain mechanisms underlying natural or social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taku Hasegawa
- 1] Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan [2] Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan [3] Training Program of Leaders for Integrated Medical System for Fruitful Healthy-Longevity Society, Center for the Promotion of Interdisciplinary Education and Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hisataka Fujimoto
- 1] Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan [2] Department of Developmental Molecular Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Koichiro Tashiro
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mayu Nonomura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akira Tsuchiya
- Department of Communications and Computer Engineering, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Dai Watanabe
- 1] Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan [2] Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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Milford M, Schulz R. Principles of goal-directed spatial robot navigation in biomimetic models. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2014; 369:20130484. [PMID: 25267826 PMCID: PMC4186237 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mobile robots and animals alike must effectively navigate their environments in order to achieve their goals. For animals goal-directed navigation facilitates finding food, seeking shelter or migration; similarly robots perform goal-directed navigation to find a charging station, get out of the rain or guide a person to a destination. This similarity in tasks extends to the environment as well; increasingly, mobile robots are operating in the same underwater, ground and aerial environments that animals do. Yet despite these similarities, goal-directed navigation research in robotics and biology has proceeded largely in parallel, linked only by a small amount of interdisciplinary research spanning both areas. Most state-of-the-art robotic navigation systems employ a range of sensors, world representations and navigation algorithms that seem far removed from what we know of how animals navigate; their navigation systems are shaped by key principles of navigation in 'real-world' environments including dealing with uncertainty in sensing, landmark observation and world modelling. By contrast, biomimetic animal navigation models produce plausible animal navigation behaviour in a range of laboratory experimental navigation paradigms, typically without addressing many of these robotic navigation principles. In this paper, we attempt to link robotics and biology by reviewing the current state of the art in conventional and biomimetic goal-directed navigation models, focusing on the key principles of goal-oriented robotic navigation and the extent to which these principles have been adapted by biomimetic navigation models and why.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Milford
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia
| | - Ruth Schulz
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia
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