EMN online Master 2024/25, 1st semester

Module: Basic tools and methods in

Neuroscience

Electrophysiology techniques part 1

Dr. Arne Battefeld
Assistant Professor
Duration: October 2024 –
University of Bordeaux December 2024
Institute of Neurodegenerative diseases
(UMR5293) FINAL EXAM (Module): TBA
[email protected]
 Your lecturer My own research:
Neuron-oligodendrocyte interaction, myelin
Arne Battefeld, PhD physiology, oligodendrocyte heterogeneity and
University of Bordeaux function, molecular interactors of myelination, neuron
Institut des Maladies physiology (subcompartmentalization), Axon, AIS,
Neurodégénératives (IMN)- CNRS UMR 5293 neuronal excitability, neocortical development
France

Team leader: (Patho)physiology of oligodendrocyte-

neuron interaction/ MCF

Contact:
[email protected]

Or Moodle on EMN-online
Forum function
Organization of this sub-module

• 4 or 5 lectures each lasting one hour (TBD)

• 1 hour Q&A session

• Lectures will be recorded and made available on EMN-online

• Self-learning material on EMN online

• Knowledge quizz
• Literature for further and/or in-depth reading – can be used as learning
material organised by method
Learning goal

???

Resource
Table of contents

• Advantages and limitations

• Extracellular techniques
• Techniques using glass electrodes
• Patch-clamp and single channel recordings
• Neurophysiology in the 21st century
Covered techniques

1. EEG
2. ERG
3. ECG
4. EMG
5. Fast scan cyclic voltametry
6. Iontophoresis
7. Extracellular recordings
8. Patch-clamp technique
9. Ion sensitive electrodes
10. Optical neurophysiology
11. Data processing/analysis
 Why electrophysiological techniques?

• Biological tissue generates bioelectricity

• Bioelectricity an important function of the nervous sysyem, but
also important for heart, muscles, development
• Allows to measure electrical changes in tissue (e.g. in reponse
to excitement, anxiety, stress).
• Help us to understand the function of neurons

And for you?

• Getting a fundamental understanding of techniques when they
are mentioned
Advantages of electrophysiological techniques

• Measuring bioelectricity and its changes in real-time

• Excellent time resolution
• Provides a read-out of the neuronal activity
• Single neuron resolution to network resolution
• Highly versatile in interrogating questions related to
• function
• ion channels
• neurotransmitter receptors
• Circuits
• Connectivity
• Disease/Pathology
• Highly complementary to other techniques
• Can combine different aspects of experimental approaches
 Limitations of electrophsyiological techniques

• Electrical non-excitable cells are often not represented.

• Point measurements (complex morphology/anatomy) – spatial resolution is

limited – however allows to measure propagation of activity

• Large scale measurements are emerging, but are still point measurements

• Often requires knowledge, training and experience in establishing in an

experimental setting/laboratory

• Most techniques are connected with considerable cost of equipment/investment

 Historical overview of electrophysiology milestones
H
ist
or
Major discoveries y
Single channel
Dendritic currents Network
morphology Brain activity EPSPs modulation Network
Channel Dendritic activity in vivo
Bioelectricity Action potential Dendritic
spikes Diversity Integration

18th cent. 1870 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Golgi Extracell. Intracell.

recordings Patch-clamp Optogenetics
stain recordings
Dendritic Neuropixels
Electro- Electron recordings
Encephalogra Microscopy based
m (EEG) Morphologies

Major methods Age of imaging

Modified from Gasparini and Palmer, 2016

 Galvani discovers “animal electricty” in frog
muscles H
ist
or
y

Luigi Galvani

Late 18th century

 H
ist
Galvani discovers electricty in frog muscles or
y

Late 18th century

Julius Bernstein records “negative Schwankung”
H
ist
or
Estimation of resting y
membrane potential
to be -60 mV

Overshooting, crossing
the zero potential line

Leading to the
Bernstein theory of a
K+ selective membrane
Galvani’s work inspired Marry Shelley’s Frankenstein
H
ist
or
y

Early 19th century

The action potential of the squid axon – 1935-1950
30 minute historic video on the squid giant axon/AP

H
https://youtu.be/g2hysrWbuZs?si=1n0TiyYuHg2o7Tq-

ist
Cole and

or
Curtis

& y

Grant, 2006 Hodkin and Huxley, 1949

Llinas, 1999
Single channel recordings – neuromuscular junction
a – new technique, patch-clamp – 1975-1982 H
ist
or
y
Electrophysiological approaches

17
Electrodes are used for measuring

• Electrodes convert ions in solution into currents in wires

• They are made of materials allowing a reversible reaction
• Most often used are Silver/Silver-chloride (Ag/AgCl) coated
electrodes

𝐶𝑙 ! + 𝐴𝑔 ↔ 𝐴𝑔𝐶𝑙 + 𝑒 !
Shape and type of electrode depends on application
Shape and type of electrode depends on application
General equipment for electrophysiology recordings
• Measurement electrode
• Amplifier
• Analogue to digital converter or AD
converter (also DAC for inverse) –
considerations:
• Bandwith (maximum sampling rate)/
Nyquist theorem
• Signal to noise ratio (SNR) –
precission of components
• Usually integrated circuits

• Computer and software to register

the digitized signal
• Analysis software/programs to make
sense of the recorded signal
(commercial or open
source/freeware) e.g. WinWCP,
AxographX, Matlab, Igor, Labview,
1. Electroencephalogram - EEG
Advantage and used for what application
Identify abnormal electrical activity of the brain (Epilepsy, neuodegeneration)
Non-invasive, clinical and research setting, humans and animals

Disadvantage
Spatially no precise, limited to the amount of microelectrodes, reproducibility (variation
across subjects)

Developed
In between 1920ies to 1930ies first human EEG (Hans Berger)– slightly earlier in animals

Usage in experimental neuroscience

Detect seizures (synchronicity), abnormal brain activity,
EEG setup humans

https://www.humlab.lu.se/facilities/eeg/

21 electrodes 19 for measurement, 2

reference electrodes
EEG recording examples – human seizure

Alpha waves - 8-13 Hz

Beta waves - Greater than 13 Hz
Theta waves - 4-7.5 Hz
Delta waves - 4 Hz or less
EEG recordings clinical applications

• Detection of seizures
• Detection of sleep abnormalities
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Detection of brain lesion(s)
• Encephalopathies
• Detection of brain tumors
• Local vs. diffuse processes
EEG in animal research
Seizure detection

High-density electrode array

Single electrode