Topic: freely moving rodents

Nonhuman primates are commonly used to study the neural basis and the performance of motor neuroprosthetic control. Rodents are mostly not preferred in such studies due to their limited cognitive and visual abilities. In this work, we examine the capability of Wistar rats for neuroprosthetic control for reaching two distant targets. Three rats were chronically and bilaterally implanted with two 16-channel microelectrode arrays in the primary motor cortex. A behavioral setup and shaping paradigm was developed to direct the attention of rats to a motor neuroprosthetic endpoint, and to enable cor

This work presents a novel micro-drive system designed to facilitate long-term investigations into rodent neural activity through the combined use of infrared neuromodulation and electrophysiological recording. Our innovative approach comprises a 3D-printed micro-drive, securely attached to the rodent's skull, along with a protective head stage to ensure the integrity of the micro-drive and the attached optical electrode (optrode) during unrestricted movement of the animal. The micro-drive interface serves as a precise tool, enabling researchers the ability to exercise fine control over the pe