A novel computational method for rodent electrographic recording and analysis using off-the-shelf intracerebral depth electrodes

Electrographic recording of brain activity through either surface electrodes (electroencephalography, EEG) or implanted electrodes (electrocorticography, ECOG) are valuable research tools in neuroscience across many disciplines, including epilepsy, sleep science and more. Research techniques to perform recordings in rodents are wide-ranging and often require custom parts that may not be readily available. Moreover, the information required to connect individual components is often limited and can therefore be challenging to implement. The quantity of data obtained can also be large and therefore difficult to analyze manually, and existing software detection tools are often task specific and require extensive coding experience to use. In this methods paper, we provide step-by-step instructions using off-the-shelf parts for electrographic recording in mice using intracerebral depth electrodes. We also provide a novel software-based detection tool that requires limited prior coding knowledge to use and with detection parameters that can be easily customized. The method is summarized as follows:•The electrode unit is assembled and implanted;•Recordings are obtained and analyzed using the novel software tool;•This method was validated using recordings taken during status epilepticus and chronic epilepsy in the intrahippocampal kainate mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy.