A large-scale optogenetic neurophysiology platform for improving accessibility in NHP behavioral experiments

Abstract

Optogenetics has been a powerful scientific tool for two decades, yet its integration with non-human primate (NHP) electrophysiology has been limited due to several technical challenges. These include a lack of electrode arrays capable of supporting large-scale and long-term optical access, inaccessible viral vector delivery methods for transfection of large regions of cortex, a paucity of hardware designed for large-scale patterned cortical illumination, and inflexible designs for multi-modal experimentation. To address these gaps, we introduce a highly accessible platform integrating optogenetics and electrophysiology for behavioral and neural modulation with neurophysiological recording in NHPs. We employed this platform in two rhesus macaques and showcased its capability of optogenetically disrupting reaches, while simultaneously monitoring ongoing electrocorticography activity underlying the stimulation-induced behavioral changes. The platform exhibits long-term stability and functionality, thereby facilitating large-scale electrophysiology, optical imaging, and optogenetics over months, which is crucial for translationally relevant multi-modal studies of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Graphical Abstract