Multiple-Spike Recording: A Review
Introduction
Multiple-spike recording is a technique for recording the electrical activity of neurons over a period of time. It is used to investigate the temporal relationship between neuronal firing and the behavior of an organism. This article reviews the history and current applications of multiple-spike recording, as well as the challenges associated with it.
History
Multiple-spike recording was first described in the early 1950s by neurophysiologists such as David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel. They used an electrical recording technique called a “multi-unit recording” to investigate the firing of individual neurons in the visual cortex of cats. In the 1970s, neurophysiologists expanded the technique to other areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus.
Current applications
Multiple-spike recording has been used in a wide range of research fields, from the study of learning and memory to the investigation of motor control. It has also been used to study the effects of drugs on neuronal activity, as well as to examine the effects of environmental stimuli on the firing of neurons.
Challenges
The main challenge associated with multiple-spike recording is the difficulty of obtaining high-quality recordings. The recordings must be of sufficient duration and resolution to capture the temporal relationship between neuronal firing and behavior. In addition, the recordings must be free from noise and artifacts.
Conclusion
Multiple-spike recording is a powerful technique for investigating the temporal relationship between neuronal firing and behavior. Despite the challenges associated with it, the technique has been used in a wide range of research fields and has yielded valuable insights into the functioning of the nervous system.
References
Hubel, D. H., & Wiesel, T. N. (1959). Receptive fields of single neurones in the cat’s striate cortex. The Journal of Physiology, 148(3), 574–591.
Miyashita, Y., & Chang, H. S. (1988). Neuronal correlate of pictorial short-term memory in the primate temporal cortex. Nature, 331(6153), 68–70.
Robinson, D. L., & Siegelbaum, S. A. (2003). Neuromodulation of neuronal circuits: Brain stimulation in vivo. Neuron, 38(3), 339–352.
Winson, J. (1985). Memory and the hippocampus: A synthesis from findings with rats, monkeys, and humans. Psychological Review, 92(3), 585– 609.