PROJECT SUMMARY
This proposal is submitted in response to the NINDS Exploratory Neuroscience Research Grant program. The
proposal develops a technology platform that will enable the measurement of intracellular activities from
identified cell types in fully intact, functional circuits in awake, freely moving, behaving rodents in a fully
automated fashion. The application proposes to develop a novel headborne recording headstage capable of
multi-axis, programmatic control of a patch pipette that is guided by recently developed algorithms that enable
automated whole cell patch clamping in vivo. The three Specific Aims provide for a systematic development of
the proposed technologies. AIM 1 develops a miniaturized headborne recordings device consisting of
programmable three axis linear stage, custom pipette mounting device and a microchip patch amplifier. AIM 2
develops passive brain stabilization techniques to increase yield and stability of intracellular recordings during
free behavior. AIM 3 will utilize the whole platform to obtain whole cell patch clamp recordings in freely moving
rats performing decision-making behavioral tasks. This project utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to develop
a robotic platform that removes a critical barrier for studying neuronal circuit functioning with a high degree of
cell and circuit specificity during behavior. The successful development of this technology platform will
empower neuroscientists to map the activities of neurons in specific circuits throughout the nervous system,
enabling a mechanistic understanding of how circuits function in behaviors, and reveal how cells and circuits
go awry in pathological states.
