All Publications

  • Design of Conformal Planar Penetrating Multi-Electrode Arrays for Recording Multiple Brain Regions. Progress in biomedical engineering (Bristol, England) Xu, H., Jin, Z., Gao, Y., Gong, Y., Liang, J. L., Lu, Z., Scholten, K., Li, X., Chen, L., Meng, E., Song, D. 2026

    Abstract

    Simultaneous recording of neural activity across multiple functionally interacting brain regions is a central objective in systems neuroscience and neural engineering. Penetrating multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) are essential for this purpose, yet their performance is fundamentally constrained by the complex three-dimensional anatomy of the brain and by substantial variability across species and brain regions. As a result, fixed or generic MEA designs, with periodic electrode distribution, often provide limited spatial coverage and suboptimal recording efficiency. In this work, we present a systematic design framework for conformal penetrating MEAs that explicitly links neuroanatomical constraints to key engineering decisions, including probe geometry, shank arrangement, electrode distribution, and implantation strategy. The framework integrates anatomical analysis, surgical considerations, device prototyping, electrophysiological validation, and histological verification within an iterative workflow, enabling progressive refinement from initial concept to final design. We illustrate this approach through representative case studies with an initial emphasis on hippocampal arrays, where highly curved and layered cytoarchitecture presents stringent design challenges, and subsequent extensions to other brain regions and animal models. These examples demonstrate how anatomy-aware, conformal designs can improve access to targeted neural structures and enable multi-region recordings. Overall, this work provides a practical and generalizable methodology for designing conformal penetrating MEAs. The proposed framework complements existing high-density and/or flexible probes, offering a unifying perspective for developing anatomically tailored neural recording technologies for basic neuroscience research and future translational applications. .

    View details for DOI 10.1088/2516-1091/ae92c4

    View details for PubMedID 42532100

  • Homeostatic plasticity and excitation-inhibition balance: The good, the bad, and the ugly. Current opinion in neurobiology Chen, L., Li, X., Tjia, M., Thapliyal, S. 2022; 75: 102553

    Abstract

    In this review, we discuss the significance of the synaptic excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance in the context of homeostatic plasticity, whose primary goal is thought to maintain neuronal firing rates at a set point. We first provide an overview of the processes through which patterned input activity drives synaptic E/I tuning and maturation of circuits during development. Next, we emphasize the importance of the E/I balance at the synaptic level (homeostatic control of message reception) as a means to achieve the goal (homeostatic control of information transmission) at the network level and consider how compromised homeostatic plasticity associated with neurological diseases leads to hyperactivity, network instability, and ultimately improper information processing. Lastly, we highlight several pathological conditions related to sensory deafferentation and describe how, in some cases, homeostatic compensation without appropriate sensory inputs can result in phantom perceptions.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102553

    View details for PubMedID 35594578