A non-invasive head-holding device for chronic neural recordings in awake behaving monkeys
Author(s)
Amemori, Satoko; Amemori, Ken-ichi; Cantor, Margaret L.; Graybiel, Ann M.
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Background
We have developed a novel head-holding device for behaving non-human primates that affords stability suitable for reliable chronic electrophysiological recording experiments. The device is completely non-invasive, and thus avoids the risk of infection and other complications that can occur with the use of conventional, surgically implanted head-fixation devices.
New method
The device consists of a novel non-invasive head mold and bar clamp holder, and is customized to the shape of each monkey's head. The head-holding device that we introduce, combined with our recording system and reflection-based eye-tracking system, allows for chronic behavioral experiments and single-electrode or multi-electrode recording, as well as manipulation of brain activity.
Results and comparison with existing methods
With electrodes implanted chronically in multiple brain regions, we could record neural activity from cortical and subcortical structures with stability equal to that recorded with conventional head-post fixation. Consistent with the non-invasive nature of the device, we could record neural signals for more than two years with a single implant. Importantly, the monkeys were able to hold stable eye fixation positions while held by this device, demonstrating the possibility of analyzing eye movement data with only the gentle restraint imposed by the non-invasive head-holding device.
Conclusions
We show that the head-holding device introduced here can be extended to the head holding of smaller animals, and note that it could readily be adapted for magnetic resonance brain imaging over extended periods of time.
Date issued
2014-11Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences; McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MITJournal
Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Publisher
Elsevier
Citation
Amemori, Satoko, Ken-ichi Amemori, Margaret L. Cantor, and Ann M. Graybiel. “A Non-Invasive Head-Holding Device for Chronic Neural Recordings in Awake Behaving Monkeys.” Journal of Neuroscience Methods 240 (January 2015): 154–60.
Version: Author's final manuscript
ISSN
01650270