Transcript Evolution of Enabling Technology for Multineuron Recording: Impact

Center for Translational Neuroscience
Distinguished Speaker Series
Rayford Auditorium, Biomed II Bldg.
Tuesday, January 13, 12 noon
“Evolution of Enabling Technology for
Multineuron Recording: Impact on Studies
of Brain and Behavior”
Donald J. Woodward, Ph.D.
President and Director,
Neuroscience Research Institute of
North Carolina,
Winston Salem, NC
Over the past two decades new procedures have begun to
appear that allow simultaneous recording of activity of large
populations of neurons in brain during awake behaviors.
Improvements in use of relatively simple arrays of
microwires as recording probes proved to have an
unanticipated significant impact by providing a key enabling
technology. These features were introduced in parallel with
introduction of sophisticated new electronic recording
instrumentation. A era of neurophysiology has now started
with the goal of decoding of behavioral intention,
mechanisms of cognitive choice, and motor command
signals in the new field of neurorobotics. It has now
become possible to study patterns of neuronal activity during
epileptic seizures, during motor dysfunction in models of
Parkinson’s disease, and for other problems. Long duration
changes in activity can also be observed that parallel
motivational shifts in ethanol and drug seeking behavior.