Innovation

Animal Electrophysiology and Behavioural Lab

This laboratory facilitates the study of extracellular electrophysiological activity in the nervous system of animal models during free or conditioned behaviors, or under the effects of anesthesia. It is equipped to record local field potentials and action potentials of individual neurons, either chronically or acutely, using multichannel analog and digital systems.

The laboratory enables a range of advanced experimental techniques, including the combination of electrical and optical brain stimulation, stimulation and recording of ultrasonic acoustic signals, behavior recording, and precise control of conditioning instruments with microsecond temporal precision.

Typical aplications include

Research on the neural substrates of psychiatric and neurological disorders
Basic research in cognitive neuroscience
Development of new brain stimulation protocols and treatment targets

It is important to highlight that this laboratory is designed to replicate, inform, and invasively validate the findings of human laboratories, providing a fundamental mechanistic understanding of phenomena observed through non-invasive methods. These capabilities are enhanced by collaboration with the existing animal facility, which can generate disease models and test omic correlates of cognition.

Extracellular electrophysiology recording system (Tucker-Davis Technologies):
- High-density multichannel recording of Local Field Potentials (LFPs) and Single Units with 64 digital channels and 16 analog channels (with various configurations, scalable up to 256 channels) and a DC amplifier (capable of recording low-frequency activity)
- Simultaneous electrical stimulation and recording compatible with optical stimulation
- Presentation and recording of acoustic stimuli in the ultrasonic range
- Video recording of behavior
- Control of behavioral instruments (e.g., conditioning cages)
- Commutator
- All functions integrated into a single software (Synapse-TDT) with a master clock (microsecond precision)
- Compatible with preamplifiers and probes from different manufacturers
- Modular and scalable system
Multichannel electrode probes (Neuronexus) + Headstages (TDT)
Anti-vibration table
Stereotaxic frame for rodents + hollow ear bars
PC with recording and stimulation software
T-Maze
CatWalk
Intellicage