A modular, adaptable, and accessible implant kit for chronic electrophysiological recordings in rats

Abstract

Electrophysiological implants enable exploration of the relationship between neuronal activity and behavior. These technologies evolve rapidly, with multiple iterations of recording systems developed and utilized. Chronic implants must address a litany of complications, including retention of high signal-to-noise ratio in probes and the ability to withstand excess force over the experimental period. To overcome these issues, we designed a chronic implant for rats. Our comprehensive protocol optimizes the entire implant process, from assembling and testing the probes (Neuropixels) to implantation. In addition to addressing the complications previously mentioned, our implant can vertically adjust probes with micron precision and is constructed using modular components, allowing it to be easily modified for various research contexts, electrophysiological recording systems, headstages, and probe types.