title: Miniature wireless recording and stimulation system for rodent behavioural testing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elucidation of neural activity underpinning rodent behaviour has traditionally been hampered by the use of tethered systems and human involvement. Furthermore the combination of deep-brain stimulation (DBS) and various neural recording modalities can lead to complex and time-consuming laboratory setups. For studies of this type, novel tools are required to drive forward this research.
  
  
  METHODS
  A miniature wireless system weighing 8.5 g (including battery) was developed for rodent use that combined multichannel DBS and local-field potential (LFP) recordings. Its performance was verified in a working memory task that involved 4-channel fronto-hippocampal LFP recording and bilateral constant-current fimbria-fornix DBS. The system was synchronised with video-tracking for extraction of LFP at discrete task phases, and DBS was activated intermittently at discrete phases of the task.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In addition to having a fast set-up time, the system could reliably transmit continuous LFP at over 8 hours across 3-5 m distances. During the working memory task, LFP pertaining to discrete task phases was extracted and compared with well-known neural correlates of active exploratory behaviour in rodents. DBS could be wirelessly activated/deactivated at any part of the experiment during EEG recording and transmission, allowing for a seamless integration of this modality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The wireless system combines a small size with a level of robustness and versatility that can greatly simplify rodent behavioural experiments involving EEG recording and DBS. Designed for versatility and simplicity, the small size and low-cost of the system and its receiver allow for enhanced portability, fast experimental setup times, and pave the way for integration with more complex behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Pinnell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dempster
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pratt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008839:Microelectrodes; D051381:Rats; D059015:Wireless Technology / Q000295:instrumentation