New Wireless Microsystem Tracks Brain's Electrical and Chemical Signals in Real Time

Researchers from the Aerospace Information Research Institute have created a dual-mode wireless microsystem. The device monitors both electrophysiological and dopamine-related chemical signals in the brain at the same time. It aims to clarify how drugs affect neural circuits in real time. The microsystem features 32 independent electrophysiological channels. It also includes electrochemical pathways sensitive to dopamine. Together, these allow synchronized capture and display of electrical and chemical brain activity.

The hardware combines a hybrid acquisition system. This uses a custom electrophysiological chip and an AD5941 electrochemical front end. An FPGA and ESP32 microcontroller manage the system. Signals are sent wirelessly via separate TCP ports to reduce interference and preserve data quality.

In lab tests, the device proved sensitive, selective, and reliable in wireless transmission. Materials like platinum nanoparticles and PEDOT:PSS enhance electrical recordings. A composite of PtNPs, PEDOT:PSS, rGO, and Nafion enables dopamine detection.

When implanted in rats' prelimbic cortex, the microsystem recorded dose-dependent changes. These included spike firing rates, local field potential power, and dopamine levels during dexmedetomidine administration. The team behind the work includes Peiyao Jiao, Yilin Song, Jin Shan, and others. The microsystem successfully captures real-time brain dynamics. It provides new insights into pharmacological effects on cortical circuits. Future plans involve embedding custom integrated circuits, adding closed-loop control, and expanding recordings to multiple brain regions.