Contact Points
Plexon Inc 32-contact electrode with 90 degree rotated connector (92078-101), 64-contact electrode with 51 mm pig-tail tether (92078-011), shipping.
• Passive electrodes for deep recordings in nonhuman primates
• 64 and 32 contact linear electrode arrays
• 100% Plexon V-probe compatible
• Sufficiently robust to tolerate 20 to 40 or more penetrations
• Validated for our application
• 120 mm overall length to reach deep structures
• Omnetics connector wired to match Ripple Nano head stages
• Omnetics connector at 90 degrees (32 contact electrode)
• Omnetics connector on 51 mm pig-tail tether (64 contact electrode)
The present need is to complete an experiment that has already started. The entire experimental set-up is arranged for Plexon V-probes. Changing this arrangement is not an option. The request is for V-probes that can be clustered together in a very tight space with the existing electrodes. This can only be done using (off-the-shelf) V-probes that have rotated and tethered connectors. Only Plexon can meet our requirements of matching electrodes with rotated and tethered connectors.
Electrodes are tiny wires inserted into the brain for recording the electrical activity of the brain. Cutting-edge studies in nonhuman primates rely on sophisticated electrode arrays that integrate 32 or 64 wires into one long, thin shaft. This allows recording a large number of individual neurons at once. Numerous critical factors determine whether or not an electrode array is suitable for a given experiment. Once an experiment is started, the electrode technology must remain fixed. We are committed to using V-probes for the current experiment. However, to make all the probes needed fit into the small workspace, we need two V-probe variants: one with its connector rotated at 90 degrees, and one that has a connector on a short, 51 mm, wire tether. These variants are commercial off-the-shelf items.
The project is aimed at advancing our understanding of reward-based learning. It combines large-scale neuronal recordings, challenging decision-making tasks by nonhuman primates and advanced computational modeling to better understand the role of dopamine in motivated behaviors. Animals have been trained on multiple decision-making tasks where they win juice rewards of different flavors. Electrodes are being used to record from multiple areas of the brain known to participate in these tasks. Behavior will be modeled using reinforcement learning algorithms, then the activity of simultaneously recorded neurons will be processed through an advanced computational pipeline to test hypotheses about the contribution of each brain area to decision making.
The Laboratory of Neuropsychology investigates higher brain functions such as learning, memory and reward related decision making. Electodes are used for recording brain activity associated with motivated behaviors and to study pathways involved in decision making. Linear electrodes are ultrafine wires used to record signal from cells (neurons) in the brain. There are many characteristic requirements that must be met for such systems to work in a study. Once an specific electrode technology is selected, all other equipment, implants and electronics must work in unison with the chosen electrode technology. In this case, the technology has been chosen and the experiment has been started. However, we need two slightly different versions of the electrodes to solve the problem of clustering many (5) electrodes in a tightly packed space. This order is not a continuation of a prior order or contract.
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