Connectivity map of a Multi-electrode Array (MEA) showing electrophysiological activity between the electrodes.

Connectivity map of a Multi-electrode Array (MEA) showing electrophysiological activity between the electrodes.
When the axons reaching across the divide were cut with a knife, the interconnectivity between the cortical neurons inside their own compartment was relatively unaffected, whereas the striatal neurons showed no electrophysiological activity. This demonstrates that there is no back talk from the striatal side to the cortical side in this system and a working corticostriatal network similar to the one inside living brains has been recreated. The colors are a sign convention used to grade the strength of connectivity between two electrodes regardless of how far apart they are. Blue indicates the weakest connections while green, yellow, orange and red are used, in order, to show stronger and stronger gradations of connectivity.

The top half of the MEA housed the compartment containing cells from the mouse cortex.  The bottom half housed the compartment containing cells from the mouse striatum. When the axons reaching across the divide were cut with a knife, the interconnectivity between the cortical neurons inside their own compartment was relatively unaffected, whereas the striatal neurons showed no electrophysiological activity. This demonstrates that there is no back talk from the striatal side to the cortical side in this system and a working corticostriatal network similar to the one inside living brains has been recreated.  

The colors are a sign convention used to grade the strength of connectivity between two electrodes regardless of how far apart they are. Blue indicates the weakest connections while  green, yellow, orange and red are used, in order, to show stronger and stronger gradations of connectivity.   

Date:
18 June 2015

Copyright OIST (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 沖縄科学技術大学院大学). Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Download full-resolution image

Tags

Research
Share on:
x icon facebook icon linkedin icon mail icon

Related Images

Correlation between connectivity and distance of neurons in the human cortex

This diagram shows correlation between connectivity and distance of neurons in the human cortex. There are approximately 100,000 neurons in a square millimeter of cortex, as illustrated in the center box. The red gradation shows neuronal connectivity, with dark red indicating denser connectivity through synapses. While half of the synapses connect to neurons close to them, the other half connect with distant neurons, as so illustrated in the boxed area on the far left of this diagram. The differences in connectivity and distance between neurons require whole brain simulation in order to understand brain function.