New approaches for CMOS-based devices for large-scale neural recording

摘要

Extracellular, large scale in vivo recording of neural activity is mandatoryfor elucidating the interaction of neurons within large neural networks at thelevel of their single unit activity. Technological achievements in MEMS-basedmultichannel electrode arrays offer electrophysiological recording capabilitiesthat go far beyond those of classical wire electrodes. Despite their impressivechannel counts, recording systems with modest interconnection overhead havebeen demonstrated thanks to the hybrid integration of CMOS circuitry for signalpreprocessing and data handling. The number of addressable channels isincreased even further by a switch matrix for electrode selection co-integratedalong the slender probe shafts. When realized by IC fabrication technologies,these probes offer highest recording site densities along the entire shaftlength.