Studying task-related activity of individual neurons in the human brain

Shaun R. Patel; Sameer A. Sheth; Clarissa Martinez-Rubio; Matthew K. Mian; Wael F. Asaad; Jason L. Gerrard; Churl Su Kwon; Darin D. Dougherty; Alice W. Flaherty; Benjamin D. Greenberg; John T. Gale; Ziv M. Williams; Emad N. Eskandar

doi:10.1038/nprot.2013.050

Studying task-related activity of individual neurons in the human brain

Shaun R. Patel, Sameer A. Sheth, Clarissa Martinez-Rubio, Matthew K. Mian, Wael F. Asaad, Jason L. Gerrard, Churl Su Kwon, Darin D. Dougherty, Alice W. Flaherty, Benjamin D. Greenberg, John T. Gale, Ziv M. Williams, Emad N. Eskandar

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Single-neuronal studies remain the gold standard for studying brain function. Here we describe a protocol for studying task-related single-neuronal activity in human subjects during neurosurgical procedures involving microelectrode recordings. This protocol has two phases: a preoperative phase and an intraoperative phase. During the preoperative phase, we discuss informed consent, equipment setup and behavioral testing. During the intraoperative phase, we discuss the procedure for microelectrode recordings. Because patients are often awake during these procedures, this protocol can be performed in conjunction with behavioral tasks for studying a variety of cognitive functions. We describe the protocol in detail and provide two examples of expected results. In addition, we discuss the potential difficulties and pitfalls related to intraoperative studies. This protocol takes ∼1.5 h to complete.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	949-957
Number of pages	9
Journal	Nature Protocols
Volume	8
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2013.050
State	Published - Apr 2013
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Access to Document

10.1038/nprot.2013.050

Cite this

@article{c1b5daa8275b4a05a16fdc498346f659,

title = "Studying task-related activity of individual neurons in the human brain",

abstract = "Single-neuronal studies remain the gold standard for studying brain function. Here we describe a protocol for studying task-related single-neuronal activity in human subjects during neurosurgical procedures involving microelectrode recordings. This protocol has two phases: a preoperative phase and an intraoperative phase. During the preoperative phase, we discuss informed consent, equipment setup and behavioral testing. During the intraoperative phase, we discuss the procedure for microelectrode recordings. Because patients are often awake during these procedures, this protocol can be performed in conjunction with behavioral tasks for studying a variety of cognitive functions. We describe the protocol in detail and provide two examples of expected results. In addition, we discuss the potential difficulties and pitfalls related to intraoperative studies. This protocol takes ∼1.5 h to complete.",

author = "Patel, {Shaun R.} and Sheth, {Sameer A.} and Clarissa Martinez-Rubio and Mian, {Matthew K.} and Asaad, {Wael F.} and Gerrard, {Jason L.} and Kwon, {Churl Su} and Dougherty, {Darin D.} and Flaherty, {Alice W.} and Greenberg, {Benjamin D.} and Gale, {John T.} and Williams, {Ziv M.} and Eskandar, {Emad N.}",

note = "Funding Information: acknoWleDGMents This work was supported by grants from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) (National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) no.R01DA026297). E.N.E. was supported by National Eye Institute (NEI) grant no. NEI 1R01EY017658-01A1, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Conte Award no. MH086400, the Klingenstein Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Dana Foundation. S.R.P. was supported by the Sackler Programme in Psychobiology. S.A.S. was supported by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) grant no. R25 NS065743. We thank K. Finnis for providing the 3D reconstructions.",

year = "2013",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1038/nprot.2013.050",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "8",

pages = "949--957",

journal = "Nature Protocols",

issn = "1754-2189",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Studying task-related activity of individual neurons in the human brain

AU - Patel, Shaun R.

AU - Sheth, Sameer A.

AU - Martinez-Rubio, Clarissa

AU - Mian, Matthew K.

AU - Asaad, Wael F.

AU - Gerrard, Jason L.

AU - Kwon, Churl Su

AU - Dougherty, Darin D.

AU - Flaherty, Alice W.

AU - Greenberg, Benjamin D.

AU - Gale, John T.

AU - Williams, Ziv M.

AU - Eskandar, Emad N.

N1 - Funding Information: acknoWleDGMents This work was supported by grants from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) (National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) no.R01DA026297). E.N.E. was supported by National Eye Institute (NEI) grant no. NEI 1R01EY017658-01A1, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Conte Award no. MH086400, the Klingenstein Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Dana Foundation. S.R.P. was supported by the Sackler Programme in Psychobiology. S.A.S. was supported by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) grant no. R25 NS065743. We thank K. Finnis for providing the 3D reconstructions.

PY - 2013/4

Y1 - 2013/4

N2 - Single-neuronal studies remain the gold standard for studying brain function. Here we describe a protocol for studying task-related single-neuronal activity in human subjects during neurosurgical procedures involving microelectrode recordings. This protocol has two phases: a preoperative phase and an intraoperative phase. During the preoperative phase, we discuss informed consent, equipment setup and behavioral testing. During the intraoperative phase, we discuss the procedure for microelectrode recordings. Because patients are often awake during these procedures, this protocol can be performed in conjunction with behavioral tasks for studying a variety of cognitive functions. We describe the protocol in detail and provide two examples of expected results. In addition, we discuss the potential difficulties and pitfalls related to intraoperative studies. This protocol takes ∼1.5 h to complete.

AB - Single-neuronal studies remain the gold standard for studying brain function. Here we describe a protocol for studying task-related single-neuronal activity in human subjects during neurosurgical procedures involving microelectrode recordings. This protocol has two phases: a preoperative phase and an intraoperative phase. During the preoperative phase, we discuss informed consent, equipment setup and behavioral testing. During the intraoperative phase, we discuss the procedure for microelectrode recordings. Because patients are often awake during these procedures, this protocol can be performed in conjunction with behavioral tasks for studying a variety of cognitive functions. We describe the protocol in detail and provide two examples of expected results. In addition, we discuss the potential difficulties and pitfalls related to intraoperative studies. This protocol takes ∼1.5 h to complete.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84877051464&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84877051464&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/nprot.2013.050

DO - 10.1038/nprot.2013.050

M3 - Review article

C2 - 23598445

AN - SCOPUS:84877051464

SN - 1754-2189

VL - 8

SP - 949

EP - 957

JO - Nature Protocols

JF - Nature Protocols

IS - 5

ER -

Studying task-related activity of individual neurons in the human brain

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this