title: Cortical stimulation mapping using epidurally implanted thin-film microelectrode arrays.
abstract: Stimulation mapping of motor cortex is an important tool for assessing motor cortex physiology. Existing techniques include intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) which has high spatial resolution but damages cortical integrity by needle penetrations, and transcranial stimulation which is non-invasive but lacks focality and spatial resolution. A minimally invasive epidural microstimulation (EMS) technique using chronically implanted polyimide-based thin-film microelectrode arrays (72 contacts) was tested in rat motor cortex and compared to ICMS within individual animals. Results demonstrate reliable mapping with high reproducibility and validity with respect to ICMS. No histological evidence of cortical damage and the absence of motor deficits as determined by performance of a motor skill reaching task, demonstrate the safety of the method. EMS is specifically suitable for experiments integrating electrophysiology with behavioral and molecular biology techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Neurology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Katiuska
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Molina-Luna
authors.forename: Manuel M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Buitrago
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hertler
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schubring
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haiss
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nisch
authors.forename: Jörg B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Andreas R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Luft
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects; D005121:Extremities / Q000294:innervation; D008839:Microelectrodes / Q000009:adverse effects; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results