Chronic, wireless recordings of large-scale brain activity in freely moving rhesus monkeys

Abstract

Advances in techniques for recording large-scale brain activity contribute to both the elucidation of neurophysiological principles and the development of brain-machine interfaces (BMIs). Here we describe a neurophysiological paradigm for performing tethered and wireless large-scale recordings based on movable volumetric three-dimensional (3D) multielectrode implants. This approach allowed us to isolate up to 1,800 units per animal and simultaneously record the extracellular activity of close to 500 cortical neurons, distributed across multiple cortical areas, in freely behaving rhesus monkeys. The method is expandable, in principle, to thousands of simultaneously recorded channels. It also allows increased recording longevity (5 consecutive years), and recording of a broad range of behaviors, e.g. social interactions, and BMI paradigms in freely moving primates. We propose that wireless large-scale recordings could have a profound impact on basic primate neurophysiology research, while providing a framework for the development and testing of clinically relevant neuroprostheses.

Joint cross-correlation analysis reveals complex, time-dependent functional relationship between cortical neurons and arm electromyograms

“…Joint cross-correlation analysis reveals complex, time-dependent functional relationship between cortical neurons and arm electromyograms. J Neurophysiol 112: 2865-2887, 2014. First published September 10, 2014 doi:10.1152/jn.00031.2013.-Correlation between cortical activity and electromyographic (EMG) activity of limb muscles has long been a subject of neurophysiological studies, especially in terms of corticospinal connectivity.…”

“…This approach has proven to be useful to detect short-latency mono-and polysynaptic connections between cortical neurons and spinal motoneurons during different motor behaviors (Baker et al 1997;Buys et al 1986;Davidson et al 2007;Jackson et al 2003;McKiernan et al 2000;Muir and Lemon 1983;Smith and Fetz 1989). STA usually represents average comodulations taken from many different behavioral epochs (McKiernan et al 1998;Semmler et al 2000), even though STA variations between different epochs of behavioral tasks (Baker et al 1997;Morrow and Miller 2003) and different tasks (Zhou and Fuster 2000) have also been reported.…”

A Survey of Technologies for Brain Computer Interface Developments to Treat Neuropsychiatric Disorders

“…As described in Schwarz et al, the efficacy of BCI systems to predict behavior from neuronal activity "increases linearly with the logarithm of the cortical neuronal sample recorded simultaneously" (Schwarz et al 2014). This can also be described as sensitivity; the number of relevant items (green in Figure 1) that are selected from the total of available relevant elements (gray in Figure 1).…”

“…Scientists have been able to use these micro-electrode arrays and closed feed-back loops to let a non-human primate use a prosthetic arm for self-feeding (Velliste et al 2008). This field is now able to implant 4-8 3D micro-electrode arrays per primate, that can record extracellular activity of up to 500 cortical neurons per array (Schwarz et al 2014). These implants have…”

“…Furthermore, this lab is now able to provide a wireless interface for the implant with relatively low power consumption that can support 128-channels for up to 30 hours uninterrupted up to a 3 meter range (Schwarz et al 2014). This interface will allow for the observation and modulation of somewhat natural social interactions and behaviors.…”