Device assists 3D brain mapping with in-depth neuron info, limiting tissue damage.
Neuroscience research has long been focused on understanding the neural interface within the brain. This is critical to understanding aging, learning, disease progression and more. However, existing methods for studying neurons in animal brains to better understand human brains all carry limitations, from being too invasive to not detecting enough information. To address this, researchers have developed a newly developed pop-up electrode device which can gather more in-depth information about individual neurons and their interactions while limiting the potential for brain tissue damage.
The device is composed of four flexible penetrating shanks and surface electrode arrays, which can be popped up into 3D geometry before being inserted into the brain. This provides a 3D device with the performance comparable with the 2D device. The device also uses a combination of materials, such as biocompatible polyethylene glycol, which provides a stiff outer layer on the device that dissolves once the device is in the brain, restoring its initial flexibility.
This device has the potential to provide a better understanding of the 3D neuron connectivity, which could lead to improved surgeries and treatments for diseases. Furthermore, the device could be used to identify correlations of neural activities from the intracortical area to cortical regions through continuous monitoring of electrophysiological signals.
The researchers are now looking to iterate on the design to make it beneficial for gaining a better understanding of the brain and for surgeries and disease treatments. This could involve making the device as small, soft and porous as possible so that the brain tissue can penetrate into and use the device as a scaffold to grow up on top of that, leading to a much better recovery.
The newly developed pop-up electrode device could therefore provide an invaluable tool for neuroscience research, as it could gather more in-depth information about individual neurons and their interactions with each other while limiting the potential for brain tissue damage. This could lead to improved surgeries and treatments for diseases and a better understanding of the 3D neuron connectivity.
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