Neural probe targets individual brain cells

The device, which was developed within the European FP6 Programme NeuroProbes, is currently designed for fundamental research on the functioning of the brain but project participants say it could have clinical applications in the future.

NeuroProbes researcher Arno Aarts from Belgian research institution Imec, which co-ordinated the project, said the neural probe enables electrical and chemical recording and stimulation of single neurons in the brain.

Current state-of-the-art multi-electrode recording probes rely on trial and error to discriminate single neurons in the brain because it is not possible to mechanically position electrodes independently from each other.

The new Electronic Depth Control (EDC) technology, developed through NeuroProbes, allows the position of the different electrodes to be individually adjusted without requiring any mechanical interaction.

According to Aarts, the EDC neural probe has hundreds of electronically switchable electrodes that can scan for neural activity, lock onto the most informative neural signals and eventually adjust their position during the course of an experiment.