title: Thin-film epidural microelectrode arrays for somatosensory and motor cortex mapping in rat.
abstract: Assessments of somatosensory and motor cortical somatotopy in vivo can provide important information on sensorimotor physiology. Here, novel polyimide-based thin-film microelectrode arrays (72 contacts) implanted epidurally, were used for recording of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and somatosensory cortex somatotopic maps of the rat. The objective was to evaluate this method with respect to precision and reliability. SEPs and somatosensory maps were measured twice within one session and again after 8 days of rest. Additionally, motor cortex maps were acquired once to assess the spatial relationship between somatosensory and motor representations of fore- and hindlimb within one individual. Somatosensory maps were well reproduced within and between sessions. SEP amplitudes and latencies were highly reliable within one recording session (combined intraclass correlation 90.5%), but less so between sessions (21.0%). Somatosensory map geometry was stable within and between sessions. For the forelimb the somatosensory representation had a 30% overlap with the corresponding motor area. No significant overlap was found for the hindlimb. No evidence for cortical injury was found on histology (Nissl). Thin-film epidural electrode array technology enables a detailed assessment of sensorimotor cortex physiology in vivo and can be used in longitudinal designs enabling studies of learning and plasticity processes.
authors.affiliation: Neuroplasticity Laboratory, Department of General Neurology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 3, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jonas A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hosp
authors.forename: Katiuska
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Molina-Luna
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hertler
authors.forename: Clement Osei
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Atiemo
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stett
authors.forename: Andreas R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Luft
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology; D005552:Forelimb / Q000294:innervation; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009482:Neurophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial