Wireless Neural Recording and Stimulation in Freely Moving Cockroaches 🪳
Published:
Supervisor: Professor Jean-Michel Mongeau; Kaushik Jayaram
Wireless Neural Recording and Stimulation in Freely Moving Cockroaches 🪳
This project integrates wireless neurotechnology with insect behavioral experiments to understand how neural activity drives complex behaviors in freely moving cockroaches. In collaboration with CU Boulder, we developed a lightweight (2.2 g) electrophysiology backpack featuring an Intan neural recording, stimulation chip, Bluetooth communication, and an onboard camera for behavioral monitoring.
🔹 Research Focus
- Studied neural control of escape and antennal behaviors using electrical stimulation of the brain (AMMC) region.
- Investigated how stimulation intensity modulates behavioral escape (shock) responses.
- Observed antenna-specific responses during low-voltage stimulation, suggesting localized sensory feedback.
- Implemented neural recording electrodes in the brain to monitor neural activity during freely behaving cockroach experiments.
- Found preliminary correlations between neural activity and hissing behavior in Madagascar cockroach.
Backpack on the freely behaving cockroach and antenna response to the stimulation.
🔹 Key Innovations
- Enabled real-time neural control and observation of unrestrained insects via Bluetooth.
- Advanced understanding of sensorimotor integration and neural plasticity in insect behavior.
🔹 Skills & Tools
- Electrophysiology & stimulation: in vivo neural recording and stimulation in small insects.
- Wireless embedded systems: PCB integration, Intan amplifier chip, Bluetooth control.
- Behavioral analysis: tracking and quantifying escape and hissing responses.
- Software: MATLAB, custom data acquisition scripts.