Large-scale high-density brain-wide neural recording in nonhuman primates

Abstract

High-density, integrated silicon electrodes have begun to transform systems neuroscience, by enabling large-scale neural population recordings with single cell resolution. Existing technologies, however, have provided limited functionality in nonhuman primate species such as macaques, which offer close models of human cognition and behavior. Here, we report the design, fabrication, and performance of Neuropixels 1.0-NHP, a high channel count linear electrode array designed to enable large-scale simultaneous recording in superficial and deep structures within the macaque or other large animal brain. These devices were fabricated in two versions: 4416 electrodes along a 45 mm shank, and 2496 along a 25 mm shank. For both versions, users can programmably select 384 channels, enabling simultaneous multi-area recording with a single probe. We demonstrate recording from over 3000 single neurons within a session, and simultaneous recordings from over 1000 neurons using multiple probes. This technology represents a significant increase in recording access and scalability relative to existing technologies, and enables new classes of experiments involving fine-grained electrophysiological characterization of brain areas, functional connectivity between cells, and simultaneous brain-wide recording at scale.

DREDge: robust motion correction for high-density extracellular recordings across species

“…Fig. 11) recorded from rhesus macaque using Neuropixels 1.0-NHP probes 33 . The probe was inserted from the motor cortex targeting globus pallidus internus (GPi) in the basal ganglia using a commercial drive system (Fig.…”

“…The methods are described in detail elsewhere 33 , but, in brief, the Non-human primate recordings used the Neuropixels 1.0-NHP probe manufactured in two variants: 1) 45 mm long x 125 μm wide x 90 μm thick, featuring 4416 electrodes comprising 11.5 banks of 384 channels each; and 2) 25 mm long, 125 μm wide, and 60 μm thick, featuring 2496 electrodes comprising 6.5 banks of 384 channels with two aligned vertical columns. Probe tips were sharpened to a 25°angle using the Narishige EG-402 micropipette beveler.…”

“…We applied DREDge to in vivo datasets from a variety of species and MEA types, including human Neuropixels recordings 15;16 , recordings in mice from the International Brain Lab’s large-scale reproducible electrophysiology experiment 32 , non-human primate recordings during probe insertion 33 , and mouse recordings using the experimental ultra high-density Neuropixels probe 34 , among others. Through these experiments, we demonstrate the usage and utility of DREDge along with some of the novel downstream analyses that it enables.…”

Cue-specific neuronal ensembles span intermittent rate coding of working memory

“…In a previous study (Jonikaitis et al, 2023), we identified the FEF based on its neurophysiological characteristics and the ability to evoke saccades with electrical stimulation. Here, we recorded from FEF and anterior sites (Broadmann areas 9/46) using primate neuropixels probes (Trautmann et al, 2023). We pierced the dura using a screw-driven 21 gauge pointed cannula and lowered the probe through this cannula using a combination of custom 3D printed grids and motorized drives (NAN instruments).…”

“…In the past several years, high-density, silicon probes, most notably Neuropixels probes (IMEC inc.), have revolutionized large-scale electrophysiological recordings in the mouse brain (Jun et al, 2017; Steinmetz et al, 2021). More recently, these probes were adapted for use in nonhuman primates (Trautmann et al, 2023). We used these newly developed probes to obtain recordings from large, dense populations of prefrontal neurons in monkeys performing the spatial working memory tasks (Fig.…”