Multielectrode Arrays for 2D Recording in Brain Slices

We will develop one and two dimensional microminiature electrode arrays for recording electricalactivity simultaneously from equally spaced locations throughout extended volumes of brain tissue withminimal tissue damage. Since many investigators employ in vitro slices of living brain tissue to studyself-contained neural systems amenable to intracellular and optical recording and drug application, theyare proposing probe designs applicable to both brain slice recording and whole animal studies. In PhaseI, a proof-of-concept demonstration of a linear 16 contact array for recording from brain slices will bedeveloped with assistance from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In Phase II, they will modifythis design into a two-dimensional array of contacts capable of sampling neuronal activity over arelatively large area of a neural system such as a thick cortical slice of tissue. We have extensiveexperience in the development of microminiature devices with a wide range of applications, includingwatches and semiconductors.