Integrated device for optical stimulation and spatiotemporal electrical recording of neural activity in light-sensitized brain tissue

J Neural Eng. 2009 Oct;6(5):055007. doi: 10.1088/1741-2560/6/5/055007. Epub 2009 Sep 1.

Abstract

Neural stimulation with high spatial and temporal precision is desirable both for studying the real-time dynamics of neural networks and for prospective clinical treatment of neurological diseases. Optical stimulation of genetically targeted neurons expressing the light sensitive channel protein Channelrhodopsin (ChR2) has recently been reported as a means for millisecond temporal control of neuronal spiking activities with cell-type selectivity. This offers the prospect of enabling local delivery of optical stimulation and the simultaneous monitoring of the neural activity by electrophysiological means, both in the vicinity of and distant to the stimulation site. We report here a novel dual-modality hybrid device, which consists of a tapered coaxial optical waveguide ('optrode') integrated into a 100 element intra-cortical multi-electrode recording array. We first demonstrate the dual optical delivery and electrical recording capability of the single optrode in in vitro preparations of mouse retina, photo-stimulating the native retinal photoreceptors while recording light-responsive activities from ganglion cells. The dual-modality array device was then used in ChR2 transfected mouse brain slices. Specifically, epileptiform events were reliably optically triggered by the optrode and their spatiotemporal patterns were simultaneously recorded by the multi-electrode array.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology*
  • Action Potentials / radiation effects
  • Animals
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Brain / radiation effects
  • Electric Stimulation / instrumentation*
  • Electrodes, Implanted*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Light
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Optical Devices*
  • Retina / physiology*
  • Retina / radiation effects
  • Systems Integration