Donate

Publication

Implantation of Neuropixels probes for chronic recording of neuronal activity in freely behaving mice and rats

Citation:
Nature Protocols. 2021 Jul;16(7):3322-3347. doi: 10.1038/s41596-021-00539-9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.
Authored By:
van Daal RJJ, Aydin Ç, Michon F, Aarts AAA, Kraft M, Kloosterman F, Haesler S.
Abstract:
How dynamic activity in neural circuits gives rise to behavior is a major area of interest in neuroscience. A key experimental approach for addressing this question involves measuring extracellular neuronal activity in awake, behaving animals. Recently developed Neuropixels probes have provided a step change in recording neural activity in large tissue volumes with high spatiotemporal resolution. This protocol describes the chronic implantation of Neuropixels probes in mice and rats using compact and reusable 3D-printed fixtures. The fixtures facilitate stable chronic in vivo recordings in freely behaving rats and mice. They consist of two parts: a covered main body and a skull connector. Single-, dual- and movable-probe fixture variants are available. After completing an experiment, probes are safely recovered for reimplantation by a dedicated retrieval mechanism. Fixture assembly and surgical implantation typically take 4–5 h, and probe retrieval takes ~30 min, followed by 12 h of incubation in probe cleaning agent. The duration of data acquisition depends on the type of behavioral experiment. Since our protocol enables stable, chronic recordings over weeks, it enables longitudinal large-scale single-unit data to be routinely obtained in a cost-efficient manner, which will facilitate many studies in systems neuroscience.
Published in:
Nature Protocols
View article

More Publications

April 18, 2024

Nature Genetics

Genome-wide association analyses identify 95 risk loci and provide insights into the neurobiology of post-traumatic stress disorder

View
March 5, 2024

Translational Psychiatry

Potential causal association between gut microbiome and posttraumatic stress disorder

View
January 29, 2024

Scientific Reports

Differential recruitment of brain circuits during fear extinction in non-stressed compared to stress resilient animals

View
December 29, 2023

Journal of Law and the Biosciences

Defusing the legal and ethical minefield of epigenetic applications in the military, defense, and security context

View
August 1, 2023

Journal of Psychopharmacology

Improving Translational Relevance in Preclinical Psychopharmacology (iTRIPP)

View
July 29, 2023

Frontiers in Neurology

Models and methods: a perspective of the impact of six IMI translational data-centric initiatives for Alzheimer’s disease and other neuropsychiatric disorders

View
View All

Cohen Veterans Bioscience is a non-profit 501(c)(3) biomedical research and technology organization dedicated to advancing brain health by fast-tracking precision diagnostics and tailored therapeutics.

Cohen Veterans Bioscience is a non-profit 501(c)(3) biomedical research and technology organization dedicated to advancing brain health by fast-tracking precision diagnostics and tailored therapeutics.

©2023 Cohen Veterans Bioscience |  Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Newsletter
Donate