Integrated circuit for simultaneous electrophysiology recording and optogenetic neural control

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present technology generally relate to a single monolithic IC to perform simultaneous optogenetic neural inhibition and extracellular electrophysiological recording in-vivo. Some embodiments include a low input capacitance (e.g., 9.7 pF) amplifier particularly tailored for the use of high-impedance electrodes to conduct single neuron extracellular recording integrated with programmable high current drivers for optogenetic stimulation or inhibition on the same IC chip. Some embodiments use a noise model to guide the IC design process to obtain parameters for optimal signal-to-noise ratio. The performance of the IC chip was demonstrated on an anesthetized gerbil expressed with inhibitory optogenetic protein (Halorhodopsin). Spontaneous action potentials from the fifth nerve of the brainstem were recorded by the amplifier and were subsequently inhibited by laser illumination. As a result, various embodiments of the IC allow neuroscience research and neural engineering applications to be conducted in an entirely new direction and can potentially be used in treatments for human mental diseases in the future.