Chronic wireless neural population recordings with common marmosets

Marmosets are an increasingly important model system for neuroscience in part due to genetic tractability and enhanced cortical accessibility, due to a lissencephalic neocortex. However, many of the techniques generally employed to record neural activity in primates inhibit the expression of natural behaviors inmarmosets precluding neurophysiological insights. To address this challenge, we have developed methods for recording neural population activity in unrestrained marmosets across multiple ethological behaviors, multiple brain states, and over multiple years. Notably, our flexible methodological design allows for replacing electrode arrays and removal of implants providing alternative experimental endpoints. We validate the method by recording sensorimotor cortical population activity in freely moving marmosets across their natural behavioral repertoire and during sleep.

Automated summary

Marmosets are becoming increasingly important in neuroscience due to their genetic tractability and easy accessibility to the neocortex, but current techniques for recording neural activity can inhibit natural behavior. Researchers have developed a method to record neural activity in unrestrained marmosets across various behaviors and brain states, addressing this challenge and allowing for alternative experimental endpoints. This method has been validated by recording sensorimotor cortical population activity in freely moving marmosets during their natural behaviors and sleep.