The ultimate objective of this project is to develop and to make available to the neuroscience research community siliconbased microelectrode arrays ("probes") for recording signals from nervous tissue, as well as critical supporting equipment for performing practical multisite neuronal recording experiments. The tiny fork-shaped silicon probes have several microelectrodes on each of their multiple shafts, and allow simultaneous recording from multiple neurons at various depths and lateral spacings. Each shaft typically occupies less volume than a pair of microwire electrodes. Using these probes, it will be possible to obtain a detailed look at a local network of neurons. Initial development of the basic technologies has been accomplished with the support of a previous grant from NSF. Probes have been manufactured using a new microfabrication process, and neural signals have been recorded with them from the cerebellar cortex of an anesthetized rat. The present grant will support efforts to further develop the instrumentation and to test it in three different neurophysiology laboratories. The goal of this funding period is to develop the technology to the point that it can be distributed to outside users at the end of the grant, through a collaboration with a commercial ncuroscience equipment vendor. With this approach, the project should have a broad and rapid impact by making silicon probe experiments accessible to the neuroscience community at large.
