2024年11月11日，《自然—方法学》杂志在线发表了美国科学家的一项最新研究成果。来自麻省理工学院Jakob Voigts小组的最新研究报道了，可用于在自然行为中进行多模态神经记录和干预的新方法。

研究人员表示，行为神经科学面临两个相互矛盾的需求：对大规模神经群体进行长时间记录，并且不妨碍动物行为。

为了应对这一挑战，研究人员开发了ONIX，一个开源数据采集系统，具有高数据吞吐量（2 GB/s）和低闭环延迟（<1毫秒），并采用0.3毫米薄的系绳以最大限度减少对行为的影响。头部位置和旋转在三维空间中被跟踪，并用于驱动主动通讯，而无需测量扭矩。ONIX能够从多种数据源采集数据，包括被动电极、Neuropixels探头、头戴式显微镜、相机、三维追踪器等。

研究人员进行了不间断的长时间（约7小时）神经记录，观察小鼠在复杂的三维地形中穿越，并进行了多日睡眠追踪记录（约55小时）。ONIX使动物能够在不受限制的情况下进行探索，具有与未植入动物相似的机动性，这与传统的系绳系统形成对比，后者限制了运动。通过将长时间记录与完全自由的机动性相结合，该技术将推动解决那些需要在符合行为学背景的自然行为中进行高质量神经记录的问题。

附：英文原文

Title: ONIX: a unified open-source platform for multimodal neural recording and perturbation during naturalistic behavior

Author: Newman, Jonathan P., Zhang, Jie, Cuevas-Lpez, Aarn, Miller, Nicholas J., Honda, Takato, van der Goes, Marie-Sophie H., Leighton, Alexandra H., Carvalho, Filipe, Lopes, Gonalo, Lakunina, Anna, Siegle, Joshua H., Harnett, Mark T., Wilson, Matthew A., Voigts, Jakob

Issue&Volume: 2024-11-11

Abstract: Behavioral neuroscience faces two conflicting demands: long-duration recordings from large neural populations and unimpeded animal behavior. To meet this challenge we developed ONIX, an open-source data acquisition system with high data throughput (2GBs1) and low closed-loop latencies (<1ms) that uses a 0.3-mm thin tether to minimize behavioral impact. Head position and rotation are tracked in three dimensions and used to drive active commutation without torque measurements. ONIX can acquire data from combinations of passive electrodes, Neuropixels probes, head-mounted microscopes, cameras, three-dimensional trackers and other data sources. We performed uninterrupted, long (~7h) neural recordings in mice as they traversed complex three-dimensional terrain, and multiday sleep-tracking recordings (~55h). ONIX enabled exploration with similar mobility as nonimplanted animals, in contrast to conventional tethered systems, which have restricted movement. By combining long recordings with full mobility, our technology will enable progress on questions that require high-quality neural recordings during ethologically grounded behaviors.

DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02521-1

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-024-02521-1