title: A silicon-based microelectrode array with a microdrive for monitoring brainstem regions of freely moving rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Exploring neural activity behind synchronization and time locking in brain circuits is one of the most important tasks in neuroscience. Our goal was to design and characterize a microelectrode array (MEA) system specifically for obtaining in vivo extracellular recordings from three deep-brain areas of freely moving rats, simultaneously. The target areas, the deep mesencephalic reticular-, pedunculopontine tegmental-and pontine reticular nuclei are related to the regulation of sleep-wake cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  The three targeted nuclei are collinear, therefore a single-shank MEA was designed in order to contact them. The silicon-based device was equipped with 3 × 4 recording sites, located according to the geometry of the brain regions. Furthermore, a microdrive was developed to allow fine actuation and post-implantation relocation of the probe. The probe was attached to a rigid printed circuit board, which was fastened to the microdrive. A flexible cable was designed in order to provide not only electronic connection between the probe and the amplifier system, but sufficient freedom for the movements of the probe as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The microdrive was stable enough to allow precise electrode targeting into the tissue via a single track. The microelectrodes on the probe were suitable for recording neural activity from the three targeted brainstem areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The system offers a robust solution to provide long-term interface between an array of precisely defined microelectrodes and deep-brain areas of a behaving rodent. The microdrive allowed us to fine-tune the probe location and easily scan through the regions of interest.
authors.affiliation: Comparative Psychophysiology Department, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Physiology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Magyar Tudósok Blvd., H-1117, Budapest, Hungary. MEMS Laboratory, Institute for Technical Physics and Materials Science, Centre for Energy Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 29-33 Konkoly Thege Miklós st., H-1121, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Márton
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baracskay
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cseri
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Plósz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Juhász
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fekete
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pongrácz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D058266:Dielectric Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008839:Microelectrodes; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012825:Silicon