Neuropixels 2.0: A miniaturized high-density probe for stable, long-term brain recordings

TLDR

Measuring the dynamics of neural processing across time scales requires following the spiking of thousands of individual neurons over milliseconds and months. To address this need, we introduce the Neuropixels 2.0 probe together with newly designed analysis algorithms. The Neuropixels 2.0 probe contains over 5 000 sites, is miniaturized for chronic implants in small mammals, and uses improved site density, arrangement, and new data‑processing methods to automatically correct for brain movements and record from the same neurons for more than two months. High‑quality recordings were reliably obtained over long time scales in mice and rats across six laboratories, and the probes and algorithms enable stable recordings from thousands of sites during free behavior even in small animals such as mice.

Abstract

Measuring the dynamics of neural processing across time scales requires following the spiking of thousands of individual neurons over milliseconds and months. To address this need, we introduce the Neuropixels 2.0 probe together with newly designed analysis algorithms. The probe has more than 5000 sites and is miniaturized to facilitate chronic implants in small mammals and recording during unrestrained behavior. High-quality recordings over long time scales were reliably obtained in mice and rats in six laboratories. Improved site density and arrangement combined with newly created data processing methods enable automatic post hoc correction for brain movements, allowing recording from the same neurons for more than 2 months. These probes and algorithms enable stable recordings from thousands of sites during free behavior, even in small animals such as mice.