Miniature Neurologgers for Flying Pigeons: Multichannel EEG and Action and Field Potentials in Combination With GPS Recording

1 Institute of Anatomy, Division of Neuroanatomy and Behavior, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland; 2 Chair of Higher Nervous System Activity, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University and 3 P. K. Anokhin's Institute of Normal Physiology, Department of Systemogenesis, Moscow, Russia Sub...

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Published inJournal of neurophysiology Vol. 95; no. 2; pp. 1263 - 1273
Main Authors Vyssotski, Alexei L, Serkov, Andrei N, Itskov, Pavel M, Dell'Omo, Giacomo, Latanov, Alexander V, Wolfer, David P, Lipp, Hans-Peter
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Am Phys Soc 01.02.2006
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Summary:1 Institute of Anatomy, Division of Neuroanatomy and Behavior, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland; 2 Chair of Higher Nervous System Activity, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University and 3 P. K. Anokhin's Institute of Normal Physiology, Department of Systemogenesis, Moscow, Russia Submitted 19 August 2005; accepted in final form 16 October 2005 To study the neurophysiology of large-scale spatial cognition, we analyzed the neuronal activity of navigating homing pigeons. This is not possible using conventional radio-telemetry suitable for short distances only. Therefore we developed a miniaturized data logger ("neurologger") that can be carried by a homing pigeon on its back, in conjunction with a micro-global position system (GPS) logger recording the spatial position of the bird. In its present state, the neurologger permits recording from up to eight single-ended or differential electrodes in a walking or flying pigeon. Inputs from eight independent channels are preamplified, band-pass filtered, and directed to an eight-channel, 10-bit analog-digital converter of the microcontroller storing data on a "Multimedia" or "Secure Digital" card. For electroencephalography (EEG), the logger permits simultaneous recordings of up to eight channels during maximally 47 h, depending on memory, while single unit activity from two channels can be stored over 9 h. The logger permits single unit separation from recorded multiunit signals. The neurologger with GPS represents a better alternative to telemetry that will eventually permit to record neuronal activity during cognitive and innate behavior of many species moving freely in their habitats but will also permit automated high-throughput screening of EEG in the laboratory. Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: A. L. Vyssotski, Institute of Anatomy, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland (E-mail: visotsky{at}anatom.unizh.ch )
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ISSN:0022-3077
1522-1598
DOI:10.1152/jn.00879.2005