Detection and Interaction Analysis of Place Cell Firing Information in Dual Brain Regions of Awake Active Rats

LI Ming; XU Wei; XU Zhaojie; MO Fan; YANG Gucheng; LV Shiya; LUO Jinping; JIN Hongyan; LIU Juntao; CAI Xinxia

doi:10.11999/JEIT250024

Volume 47 Issue 8

Aug. 2025

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Article Navigation > Journal of Electronics & Information Technology > 2025 > 47(8): 2850-2858

LI Ming, XU Wei, XU Zhaojie, MO Fan, YANG Gucheng, LV Shiya, LUO Jinping, JIN Hongyan, LIU Juntao, CAI Xinxia. Detection and Interaction Analysis of Place Cell Firing Information in Dual Brain Regions of Awake Active Rats[J]. Journal of Electronics & Information Technology, 2025, 47(8): 2850-2858. doi: 10.11999/JEIT250024

Citation:

LI Ming, XU Wei, XU Zhaojie, MO Fan, YANG Gucheng, LV Shiya, LUO Jinping, JIN Hongyan, LIU Juntao, CAI Xinxia. Detection and Interaction Analysis of Place Cell Firing Information in Dual Brain Regions of Awake Active Rats[J]. Journal of Electronics & Information Technology, 2025, 47(8): 2850-2858. doi: 10.11999/JEIT250024

Citation:

LI Ming, XU Wei, XU Zhaojie, MO Fan, YANG Gucheng, LV Shiya, LUO Jinping, JIN Hongyan, LIU Juntao, CAI Xinxia. Detection and Interaction Analysis of Place Cell Firing Information in Dual Brain Regions of Awake Active Rats[J]. Journal of Electronics & Information Technology, 2025, 47(8): 2850-2858. doi: 10.11999/JEIT250024

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Detection and Interaction Analysis of Place Cell Firing Information in Dual Brain Regions of Awake Active Rats

doi: 10.11999/JEIT250024 cstr: 32379.14.JEIT250024

LI Ming^{1, 2},
XU Wei^{1, 2},
XU Zhaojie^{1, 2},
MO Fan^{1, 2},
YANG Gucheng^{1, 2},
LV Shiya^{1, 2},
LUO Jinping^{1, 2},
JIN Hongyan³,
LIU Juntao^{1, 2},
CAI Xinxia^{1, 2
,
,}

1.
State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
2.
School of Electronic, Electrical and Communication Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100149, China
3.
Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China

Funds: The National Natural Science Foundation of China (T2293730), The Research and Development Projects of Scientific Research Instruments and Equipment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (PTYQ2024BJ0009), Joint Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (8091A170201)

Received Date: 2025-01-10
Rev Recd Date: 2025-04-01

Available Online: 2025-05-12

Publish Date: 2025-08-27

Abstract

Abstract

Objective Continuous monitoring of neural activities in free-moving rats is essential for understanding brain function but presents significant challenges regarding the stability and biocompatibility of the detection device. This study aims to provide comprehensive data on brain activity by simultaneously monitoring two brain regions. This approach is crucial for elucidating the neural encoding differences within these regions and the information exchange between them, both of which are integral to spatial memory and navigation processes. Spatial navigation is a fundamental behavior in rats, vital for their survival and interaction with their environment. Central to this behavior are place cells—neurons that selectively respond to an animal’s location, forming the basis of spatial memory and navigation. This study focuses on the hippocampal CA1 region and the Barrel Cortex (BC), both of which are critical for spatial processing. By monitoring these regions simultaneously, the aim is to uncover the neural dynamics underlying spatial memory formation and retrieval. Understanding these dynamics provides insights into the neural mechanisms of spatial cognition and memory, which are fundamental to higher cognitive functions and are often disrupted in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. Methods To achieve dual brain region monitoring, a four-electrode MicroElectrode Array (MEA) is designed to conform to the shape of the dual brain regions and is surface-modified with a Polypyrrole/Silver Nanowire (PPy/AgNW) nanocomposite material. Each probe of the MEA consists of eight recording sites with a diameter of 20 μm and one reference site. The MEA is fabricated using Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) technology and modified via an electrochemical deposition process. The PPy/AgNW nanocomposite modification is selected for its low impedance and high biocompatibility, which are critical for stable, long-term recordings. The deposition of PPy/AgNW is carried out using cyclic voltammetry. The stability of the modified MEA is assessed by cyclic voltammetry in phosphate-buffered saline to simulate in vivo charge/discharge processes. The MEA is then implanted into the CA1 and BC regions of rats, and neural activities are recorded during a two-week spatial memory task. Spike signals are analyzed to identify place cells and assess their firing patterns, while Local Field Potential (LFP) power is measured to evaluate overall neural activity. Mutual information analysis is performed to quantify the interaction between the two brain regions. The experimental setup includes a behavior arena where rats perform spatial navigation tasks, with continuous neural signal recording using the modified MEA. Results and Discussions The PPy/AgNW-modified MEA exhibits low impedance (53.01 ± 2.59 kΩ) at 1 kHz (Fig. 2). This low impedance is critical for high-fidelity signal acquisition, enabling the detection of subtle neural activities. The stability of the MEA is evaluated through 1000 cycles of cyclic voltammetry scanning, demonstrating high capacitance retention (92.51 ± 2.21%) and no significant increase in impedance (Fig. 3). These results suggest that the MEA maintains stable performance over extended periods, which is essential for long-term in vivo monitoring. The modified MEA successfully detects neural activities from the BC and CA1 regions over the two-week period. The average firing rates and LFP power in both regions progressively increase, indicating enhanced neural activity as the rats become more familiar with the spatial memory task (Fig. 4). This increase suggests that the rats’ spatial memory and navigation abilities improve over time, likely due to increased familiarity with the environment and task requirements. Place cells are identified in the recorded neurons, confirming the presence of spatially selective neuronal activity (Fig. 5). The identification of place cells is a key finding, as these neurons are fundamental to spatial memory and navigation. Additionally, the spatial stability of place cells in the CA1 region is higher than in the BC region, indicating functional differences between these areas in spatial memory processing (Fig. 5). This suggests that the CA1 region plays a more critical role in spatial memory consolidation. Mutual information analysis reveals significant information exchange between the dual brain regions during the initial memory phase, suggesting a role in memory storage (Fig. 6). This inter-regional communication is crucial for understanding how spatial information is processed and stored in the brain. The observed increase in mutual information over time indicates that the interaction between the BC and CA1 regions becomes more pronounced as the rats engage in spatial navigation, highlighting the dynamic nature of neural interactions during memory formation and retrieval. Conclusions This study successfully demonstrated continuous dual brain region monitoring in freely moving rats using a PPy/AgNW-modified MEA. The findings reveal dynamic interactions between the BC and CA1 regions during spatial memory tasks and highlight the importance of place cells in memory formation. Monitoring neural activities in dual brain regions over extended periods provides new insights into the neural basis of spatial memory and navigation. The results suggest that the CA1 region plays a critical role in spatial memory consolidation, while the BC region also contributes to spatial processing. This distinction highlights the value of studying multiple brain regions simultaneously to gain a comprehensive understanding of neural processes. The PPy/AgNW-modified MEA serves as a powerful tool for investigating the complex neural mechanisms underlying spatial cognition and memory, with potential applications in related neurological disorders.
- Brain-computer interface,
- Nanomaterials,
- MicroElectrode Array (MEA),
- Place cell

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References(15)

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