Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in freely moving animals

Methods Mol Biol. 2014:1183:263-76. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-1096-0_17.

Abstract

The patch-clamp technique and the whole-cell measurements derived from it have greatly advanced our understanding of the coding properties of individual neurons by allowing for a detailed analysis of their excitatory/inhibitory synaptic inputs, intrinsic electrical properties, and morphology. Because such measurements require a high level of mechanical stability they have for a long time been limited to in vitro and anesthetized preparations. Recently, however, a considerable amount of effort has been devoted to extending these techniques to awake restrained/head-fixed preparations allowing for the study of the input-output functions of neurons during behavior. In this chapter we describe a technique extending patch-clamp recordings to awake animals free to explore their environments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Electrodes
  • Electrophysiology / instrumentation
  • Electrophysiology / methods
  • Male
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques / instrumentation
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques / methods*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Wakefulness
  • Walking*