# A Comb-Shaped Flexible Microelectrode Array for Simultaneous Multi-Scale Cortical Recording

## TL;DR

A new flexible microelectrode array was developed to record brain activity at multiple scales, offering high-resolution data with minimal invasiveness.

## Contribution

The novel comb-shaped flexible microelectrode array enables simultaneous multi-scale cortical recordings with enhanced signal fidelity.

## Key findings

- The device successfully recorded ECoG, LFP, and spikes from rat cortex with high fidelity.
- Opposing LFP trends and polarity reversals were observed between adjacent channels, indicating local microcircuit dynamics.
- The array reliably captured neural responses during audiovisual cross-modal stimulation.

## Abstract

High-resolution, multi-modal neural interfaces are essential for advancing systems neuroscience and brain–computer interface technologies. This study designed and fabricated a 128-channel comb-shaped flexible micro-electrode array. The device integrates a biocompatible Parylene substrate with a flexible thin-film microprobe array, enabling simultaneous recording of electrocorticography (ECoG), intracortical local field potentials (LFP), and neuronal action potentials (spikes) from the cortical surface and superficial layers. Microelectrode sites were modified with platinum black nanoparticles, significantly reducing impedance. In vivo experiments in rats demonstrated the array’s ability to capture high-fidelity signals across different recording depths. Key findings included the acquisition of opposing LFP trends and polarity reversals between adjacent channels, reflecting local microcircuit dynamics. The array also reliably recorded neural activity during audiovisual cross-modal sensory stimulation. These results validate the device as an effective tool for multi-scale electrophysiology, successfully balancing high spatial resolution and signal quality with minimal tissue invasiveness, thereby offering significant potential for fundamental research and neural engineering applications.