Neuropixels Electrodes Study

The Laboratory of Neuropsychology investigates higher brain functions such as learning, memory, and reward-related decision making. These studies require electrodes to explore deep structures in the nonhuman primate brain to evaluate the relationship between these structures and primate behavior. The exploration of brain regions known to contribute to reward-related behaviors requires electrodes designed to explore the exact regions under study.

Disentangling the contributions of multiple regions requires the ability to recording the electrical activity of many neurons simultaneously. Simultaneous recording is especially important for reward-related circuitry, where computational models are used to guide the research. The specified purchase is for a electrodes able to reach deep structures in nonhuman primate, like the amygdala and ventral striatum. This new generation of electrodes can record from hundreds of neurons simultaneously.

The specified electrodes are required for both ongoing experiments and upcoming ones. Understanding the circuitry behind reward-related behavior is an essential component of the NIMH mission to understand and develop treatments for behavioral disorders. Each electrode has a limited lifetime, so this order is for 10 additional Neuropixels.