Implantation of Electrodes into a Mouse Cortex for Electrocorticographic Recordings

Take an anesthetized mouse with its skull exposed on a stereotactic frame. This mouse has been injected with a virus expressing the mutated actin-severing protein into the right cerebral cortex.

Screw an electrocorticographic electrode into the injection site.

Mark and drill the skull perpendicularly for the posterior electrode, reference electrode, and maintenance screws.

Disinfect the sites with antiseptic and block them to prevent bleeding.

Insert the screws and electrodes at the same drill angles and apply dental cement to the space between them.

Now, use light to solidify the cement.

Cover the bases of the electrodes and screws with dental cement and apply light again. Secure the assembly with acrylic cement. Suture the skin.

Connect the electrodes' gold wires to the connector pins.

Cover the connector space with acrylic cement.

Allow the mouse to recover. Following recovery, record cerebral cortex signals in response to the viral injection.

For electrode implantation, use straight Kelly forceps to slowly screw one electrocorticographic electrode with a straight gold wire, into the vertical axis of the hole in which the AAV was injected, leaving at least 2.5 millimeters of scr