ePoster

ULTRA-FLEXIBLE NANOELECTRONIC THREADS ENABLE LARGE-SCALE, MONTHS-LONG RECORDINGS OF BRAINSTEM SINGLE UNITS IN BEHAVING RATS

Amelien Vrevenand 6 co-authors

University of Helsinki

FENS Forum 2026 (2026)
Barcelona, Spain
Board PS01-07AM-388

Presentation

Date TBA

Board: PS01-07AM-388

Poster preview

ULTRA-FLEXIBLE NANOELECTRONIC THREADS ENABLE LARGE-SCALE, MONTHS-LONG RECORDINGS OF BRAINSTEM SINGLE UNITS IN BEHAVING RATS poster preview

Event Information

Poster Board

PS01-07AM-388

Abstract

High-dimensional neuronal population dynamics (i.e., tens to hundreds of neurons) has recently been shown in brainstem neuromodulatory regions. However, single unit recordings in deep brain regions of rodents and non-human primates (e.g., locus coeruleus, ventral tegmental area, dorsal raphe, subthalamic nucleus, etc.) using rigid multi-electrode silicon probes or wire tetrodes limits recordings to typically fewer than 5 single units simultaneously. Moreover, recordings last for approximately 1 week. These limitations may be due to physical instability at the electrode-tissue interface as the brainstem moves with trunk muscle contraction, breathing, and blood pressure changes. We sought to overcome this by testing whether ultra-flexible nanoelectronic threads (NET) would move with the brain to enable large-scale, long-duration single unit recordings. We implanted a 128-electrode NET into the pontine brainstems of 7 male and 4 female rats. We recorded up to 60 single units at once. On average, we recorded 9.63±11.11 units/day simultaneously (11.46±12 units/day in the first month and 4.28±5.13 units/day in months 2-3). This technical development permits studying high-dimensional populations activity in neuromodulatory and other deep brain regions. It enables long-term studies of development, aging, chronic stress, neurodegeneration, and disease progression.

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