title: A wireless multi-channel recording system for freely behaving mice and rats.
abstract: To understand the neural basis of behavior, it is necessary to record brain activity in freely moving animals. Advances in implantable multi-electrode array technology have enabled researchers to record the activity of neuronal ensembles from multiple brain regions. The full potential of this approach is currently limited by reliance on cable tethers, with bundles of wires connecting the implanted electrodes to the data acquisition system while impeding the natural behavior of the animal. To overcome these limitations, here we introduce a multi-channel wireless headstage system designed for small animals such as rats and mice. A variety of single unit and local field potential signals were recorded from the dorsal striatum and substantia nigra in mice and the ventral striatum and prefrontal cortex simultaneously in rats. This wireless system could be interfaced with commercially available data acquisition systems, and the signals obtained were comparable in quality to those acquired using cable tethers. On account of its small size, light weight, and rechargeable battery, this wireless headstage system is suitable for studying the neural basis of natural behavior, eliminating the need for wires, commutators, and other limitations associated with traditional tethered recording systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Neurobiology, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Dylan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.forename: Tahl
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Holtzman
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruther
authors.forename: Jeffrey W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Dalley
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Joseph W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Barter
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salas-Meza
authors.forename: Stanislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herwik
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Holzhammer
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morizio
authors.forename: Henry H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test; D013686:Telemetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014741:Video Recording / Q000295:instrumentation*; D059015:Wireless Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*