Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-7-2024
Abstract
Background: To study neural control of behavior, intracellular recording and stimulation of many neurons in freely moving animals would be ideal. However, current technologies limit the number of neurons that can be monitored and manipulated. A new technology has become available for intracellular recording and stimulation which we demonstrate in the tractable nervous system of Aplysia. New method: Carbon fiber electrode arrays (whose tips are coated with platinum-iridium) were used with an in vitro feeding preparation to intracellularly record from and to control the activity of multiple neurons during feeding movements. Results: In an in vitro feeding preparation, the carbon fiber electrode arrays recorded action potentials and subthreshold synaptic potentials during feeding movements. Depolarizing or hyperpolarizing currents activated or inhibited identified neurons (respectively), manipulating the movements of the feeding apparatus. Comparison with existing method(s): Standard glass microelectrodes that are commonly used for intracellular recording are stiff, liable to break in response to movement, and require many micromanipulators to be precisely positioned. In contrast, carbon fiber arrays are less sensitive to movement, but are capable of multiple channels of intracellular recording and stimulation. Conclusions: Carbon fiber arrays are a novel technology for intracellular recording that can be used in moving preparations. They can record both action potentials and synaptic activity in multiple neurons and can be used to stimulate multiple neurons in complex patterns.
Keywords
Aplysia, carbon fiber electrodes, intracellular recording, intracellular stimulation
Language
English
Publication Title
Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Grant
1754869
Rights
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY-NC-ND/4.0/), which permits non-commercial copying and redistribution of the material in any medium or format, provided the original work is not changed in any way and is properly cited.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Huan Y, Tibbetts BN, Richie JM, Chestek CA, Chiel HJ. Intracellular neural control of an active feeding structure in Aplysia using a carbon fiber electrode array. J Neurosci Methods. 2024 Apr;404:110077. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2024.110077. Epub 2024 Feb 7. PMID: 38336092; PMCID: PMC11136531.
Manuscript Version
Final Publisher Version