Abstract
In this paper, we present a modular Data Acquisition (DAQ) system for simultaneous electrical stimulation and recording of brain activity. The DAQ system is designed to work with custom-designed Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) called Neurostim-3 and a variety of commercially available Multi-Electrode Arrays (MEAs). The system can control simultaneously up to 512 independent bidirectional i.e., input-output channels. We present in-depth insight into both hardware and software architectures and discuss relationships between cooperating parts of that system. The particular focus of this study was the exploration of efficient software design so that it could perform all its tasks in real-time using a standard Personal Computer (PC) without the need for data precomputation even for the most demanding experiment scenarios. Not only do we show bare performance metrics, but we also used this software to characterise signal processing capabilities of Neurostim-3 (e.g., gain linearity, transmission band) so that to obtain information on how well it can handle neural signals in real-world applications. The results indicate that each Neurostim-3 channel exhibits signal gain linearity in a wide range of input signal amplitudes. Moreover, their high-pass cut-off frequency gets close to making it suitable for recording both Local Field Potential (LFP) and spiking brain activity signals. Additionally, the current stimulation circuitry was checked in terms of the ability to reproduce complex patterns. Finally, we present data acquired using our system from the experiments on a living rat’s brain, which proved we obtained physiological data from non-stimulated and stimulated tissue. The presented results lead us to conclude that our hardware and software can work efficiently and effectively in tandem giving valuable insights into how information is being processed by the brain.
Highlights
Brain activity can be examined using various techniques, some of which measure electric signals directly reflecting neuronal activity and interactions
We showed and discussed all components of the novel neural Data Acquisition (DAQ) system for the Neurostim-3 Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), meant to work with up to 512 individual channels able to output current patterns and record incoming signals through the connected Multi-Electrode Arrays (MEAs)
The hardware is managed by dedicated software, which provides efficient means of control of experiments, ASIC behaviour simulation and customisable real-time data visualisation
Summary
Brain activity can be examined using various techniques, some of which measure electric signals directly reflecting neuronal activity and interactions. Noninvasive electrophysiological approaches dominate human research (Electroencephalography (EEG) [1] or Magnetoencephalography (MEG) [2]), while basic research, with animal models, mostly use electrodes and Multi-Electrode Arrays (MEAs) [3] implanted deep into studied structures Each of these methods covers specific research scope regarding spatio-temporal resolution and the type of information that can be extracted from recorded signals. Inhibition or stimulation of a particular neuronal population reveals its impact on brain functioning and animal’s behaviour Such an influence can be obtained by the use of neuropharmacological compound acting on receptor activating or inhibiting the neurons, or by the direct electrical stimulation [5]. Delicately implanted, fine silicon probes induce minimal change in the neighbouring tissue
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