The DREAM Implant: A Lightweight, Modular, and Cost-Effective Implant System for Chronic Electrophysiology in Head-Fixed and Freely Behaving Mice

Tim Schr&#246;der; Robert Taylor; Muad Abd El Hay; Abdellatif Nemri; Arthur Fran&#231;a; Francesco Battaglia; Paul Tiesinga; Marieke L. Sch&#246;lvinck; Martha N. Havenith

doi:10.3791/66867

DREAM 植入物:一种轻便、模块化且经济高效的植入系统，用于头部固定和行为自由的小鼠的慢性电生理学

JoVE Journal
Neuroscience

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JoVE Journal Neuroscience

The DREAM Implant: A Lightweight, Modular, and Cost-Effective Implant System for Chronic Electrophysiology in Head-Fixed and Freely Behaving Mice

DREAM 植入物:一种轻便、模块化且经济高效的植入系统，用于头部固定和行为自由的小鼠的慢性电生理学

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July 26, 2024

DOI: 10.3791/66867-v

Tim Schröder*^1,2, Robert Taylor*³, Muad Abd El Hay³, Abdellatif Nemri², Arthur França¹, Francesco Battaglia¹, Paul Tiesinga¹, Marieke L. Schölvinck*³, Martha N. Havenith*^1,2,3

¹Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour,Radboud University, ²3D Neuro B.V., ³Zero-Noise Lab,Ernst-Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience

Please note that some of the translations on this page are AI generated. Click here for the English version.

Overview

This study introduces a novel lightweight and cost-effective probe implant system designed for chronic electrophysiology in rodents. It enhances experimental versatility and probe recovery while ensuring compatibility with behavioral tasks, thereby facilitating the simultaneous recording of neuronal activity during meaningful animal behaviors.

Key Study Components

Area of Science

Chronic electrophysiology
Behavioral neuroscience
Neurotechnology

Background

Studying decision-making and rule learning in rodents.
Investigating interactions between the anterior cingulate cortex and sensory regions.
Emphasizing the importance of naturalistic behaviors in understanding neural computation.
Addressing challenges in obtaining high-quality neuronal recordings during complex behaviors.

Purpose of Study

To develop an implant system that can record neuronal activity comfortably during behavioral tasks.
To enhance accessibility of electrophysiology for labs with limited resources.
To compare neuronal and behavioral measurements in mice and macaques in a naturalistic environment.

Methods Used

The study utilized a lightweight and modular microdrive implant system.
The primary biological model included mice and macaques performing virtual reality foraging tasks.
Key steps include careful surgical preparation for probe implantation and ensuring probe stability during experiments.
Recorded neuronal activity was aimed at understanding behavioral states in both species.

Main Results

Found similarities in computational dynamics and behavioral states between mice and monkeys.
Demonstrated effective recording of neuronal activity aligned with natural behaviors.
Introduced a versatile implant design that addresses technical challenges in chronic electrophysiology.

Conclusions

The study showcases a new implant system that improves the feasibility of chronic electrophysiology in behavioral studies.
This innovative approach enables researchers to uncover insights into neural mechanisms and decision-making processes.
It holds implications for advancing electrophysiology in various research contexts, particularly for labs with fewer resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages of the new probe implant system?

The implant system is lightweight, cost-effective, and modular, allowing for flexible electrode placement and easier probe recovery, enhancing experimental applicability.

How is the biological model implemented in this study?

The biological model consists of mice and macaques engaged in virtual reality foraging tasks, facilitating the study of naturalistic decision-making and behavioral responses.

What type of data is obtained using this implant system?

The system provides high-quality recordings of neuronal activity, enabling researchers to analyze excitability changes and behavioral dynamics during tasks.

How can this method be applied in other research contexts?

The implant system can be adapted for various species and tasks, making it suitable for studying different aspects of neural computation in behavior.

What are some key limitations of this implant system?

While the implant system is designed for ease of use, challenges may still arise in ensuring optimal recording quality during particularly complex behaviors.

How does this study impact the field of electrophysiology?

By making electrophysiological methods more accessible, it allows a wider range of laboratories to conduct innovative experiments and contribute to the field.

What key findings were reported comparing mice and monkeys?

The study found that mice and monkeys exhibit similar computational dynamics and behavioral states while performing the same tasks in naturalistic settings.

在这里，我们介绍了一种轻便、经济高效的探针植入系统，用于啮齿动物的慢性电生理学，该系统针对易用性、探针恢复、实验多功能性和行为兼容性进行了优化。

我们的研究使用虚拟现实任务和小鼠和猕猴的慢性电生理学来研究自然决策和规则学习。我们专注于前扣带皮层和视觉皮层等感觉区域之间的相互作用。这种方法旨在理解目标导向行为中特定于物种或可推广的计算策略。

我认为作为一个领域，我们开始认识到，如果我们想真正理解神经计算，我们必须在动物从事对它们有意义和自然的行为时进行。因此，如果我们也想同时记录神经元活动，我们需要的是既坚固又舒适的植入物，供我们的动物使用。从技术上讲，我认为最大的挑战仍然是获得高产量的神经元记录，同时还要让动物参与复杂的行为。

更一般地说，我认为电生理学对于可能资金较少或技术资源较少的实验室来说更容易获得非常重要，这样无论您在哪个实验室工作，我们都可以为将伟大的想法转化为伟大的实验创造公平的竞争环境。我们的实验室直接比较了小鼠和猴子执行完全相同的自然虚拟环境觅食任务的神经元和行为测量值。通过这样做，我们发现实际上它们所经历的许多计算动态和行为状态是直接相同的。

DREAM 植入物是该领域已经存在的优势的组合。它重量轻、结构紧凑，同时采用模块化设计，电极放置灵活，并具有可恢复的微型驱动器，从而降低了实验成本。首先，将 0.05 英寸焊尾插座焊接到硅胶探针的接地线上。

转动微驱动器主体上的螺钉，使微驱动器梭完全向上缩回。将微型驱动器水平放在微型驱动器支架上。将一小块粘性腻子放在微型驱动器支架上。

然后，将一小滴硅胶石膏滴在梭子上。将带有柔性电缆的探头放在微型驱动器的梭子上。然后，轻轻地将柔性电缆拉向微型驱动器的顶部，直到电缆的底部边缘与微型驱动器穿梭机的底部边缘相遇。

将探头的头部连接器放在支架顶部的粘性腻子上。使用 27 号针头或微刷，在电极体和梭子之间滴一小滴氰基丙烯酸酯胶，避开柔性电缆。使用硅胶石膏将放大器连接到冠环上。

然后，将柔性电缆连接到放大器，并用一层薄薄的硅胶石膏覆盖连接和电缆。用小滴环氧树脂将铜网切口固定在法拉第笼上。首先，将所有无菌手术器械放在无菌工作平台上。

使用棉签用碘基消毒剂和酒精对麻醉小鼠的剃光区域进行多次消毒。使用耳杆和鼻托将鼠标放在立体定向框架中。进行爪子捏合以确认麻醉深度。

使用小手术剪刀，在颅骨顶部的皮肤上切出一个杏仁形的开口，从 lambda 缝合线的后部一直延伸到眼睛之间。继续切割以去除皮下膜和骨膜。然后，用手术刀刀片刮擦颅骨以去除软膜组织。

小心地以纵横交错的方式划挠，手术刀的尖端倒置，使颅骨表面变粗糙。交替使用手术刀刀片和无菌棉签，轻轻刮擦并推开附着在 lambda 缝合线两侧的颈部肌肉，直到肌肉被推回小脑顶部的颅骨边缘。使用 1 毫升注射器在皮肤和颅骨边缘之间涂抹一小滴氰基丙烯酸酯胶。

在颅骨上涂抹牙科粘固底漆以增加附着力，并用紫外线硬化。找到探针植入相对于前囟或 lambda 的目标位置，并用手术标记勾勒出其周围的开颅手术。使用牙科水泥将头板固定在颅骨上。

用牙钻在大脑区域钻一个与接头引脚宽度相同的小毛刺孔。使用注射器将无菌生理盐水滴在开颅手术机上，然后用不脱落的湿巾将其去除。轻轻地将接地针插入每个开颅手术中，并在针座针周围涂抹水泥。

然后，通过稳定地移动边缘来钻取较大开颅手术的轮廓。要测试骨骼钻孔部分的阻力，请用细镊子轻轻推动它。将带有硅探针的微型驱动器放入微型驱动器支架中。

调整立体定向臂的角度以到达所需的目标大脑区域。将带有连接放大器的冠环放在微型驱动器支架背面的三个垂直销钉上。将微型驱动器降低到距离开颅手术约 0.5 毫米的范围内，然后使用镊子连接接地或参考接头引脚。

将带有微型驱动器的立体定向臂放在开颅手术机上。降低微型驱动器，直到探针柄接触目标区域的硬脑膜。将微型驱动器的底座固定到位。

用牙科水泥覆盖基部和颅骨之间的空间。然后，将硅探针降低到大脑上。当探头柄接触大脑时，迅速将探头降低约 250 微米。

一旦探针突破皮层表面，以较慢的速度降低它。使用 1 毫升注射器，将一小滴硅弹性体分配到开颅手术中。用骨蜡和矿物油的等量混合物覆盖有机硅弹性体。

当牙科粘固剂凝固后，用内六角扳手松开微型驱动器支架。轻轻缩回支架约 1 厘米，使微型驱动器独立放置，探针放大器或连接器保持固定在植入物支架上，而不会拉伸柔性电缆。通过在开口处拉伸笼并将其水平插入微型驱动器和柔性电缆上，将预制的表冠和法拉第网格放在头板上。

然后，用牙科水泥将其固定在头板上。将带有探头连接器或头级的法拉第冠环放在冠上，将探头放大器或连接器的集成支架与法拉第冠上凹陷的 X 标记的区域对齐。在每个辐条环连接处用一滴牙科水泥将环固定到法拉第笼上。

固定后，用微型驱动器支架完全缩回立体定向臂。将探针放大器或连接器连接到记录硬件并开始神经元信号记录。如果探针尚未到达其目标位置，请逆时针缓慢转动微型驱动器螺钉以降低探针，同时监测神经元信号。

当探头上可以看到神经局部场电位时，结束测试记录并断开 Headstage 连接器。用自粘式兽医包裹物覆盖法拉第笼。

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