title: Real-time in vivo optogenetic neuromodulation and multielectrode electrophysiologic recording with NeuroRighter.
abstract: Optogenetic channels have greatly expanded neuroscience's experimental capabilities, enabling precise genetic targeting and manipulation of neuron subpopulations in awake and behaving animals. However, many barriers to entry remain for this technology - including low-cost and effective hardware for combined optical stimulation and electrophysiologic recording. To address this, we adapted the open-source NeuroRighter multichannel electrophysiology platform for use in awake and behaving rodents in both open and closed-loop stimulation experiments. Here, we present these cost-effective adaptations, including commercially available LED light sources; custom-made optical ferrules; 3D printed ferrule hardware and software to calibrate and standardize output intensity; and modifications to commercially available electrode arrays enabling stimulation proximally and distally to the recording target. We then demonstrate the capabilities and versatility of these adaptations in several open and closed-loop experiments, demonstrate spectrographic methods of analyzing the results, as well as discuss artifacts of stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Translational Neuroengineering Group, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA ; Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Nealen G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Laxpati
authors.affiliation: Translational Neuroengineering Group, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA ; Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
authors.affiliation: Translational Neuroengineering Group, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA ; Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Claire-Anne
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gutekunst
authors.affiliation: Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neuroengineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Riley
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zeller-Townson
authors.affiliation: Translational Neuroengineering Group, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA ; Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA ; Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Gross
keywords: LED; NeuroRighter; closed-loop; electrophysiology; microelectrode array; open-source; optogenetics