Intracellular neuronal recordings from the brain of awake nonhuman primates have remained difficult to obtain because of several formidable technical challenges, such as poor recording stability and difficulties in maintaining long-term recording conditions. We have developed a technique to record neuronal activity by using a coaxial guide tube and sharp electrode assembly, which allows researchers to repeatedly and reliably perform intracellular recordings in the cortex of awake marmosets. Recordings from individual neurons last from several minutes to more than an hour. A key advantage of this approach is that it does not require dura removal, permitting recordings over weeks and months in a single animal. This protocol describes the step-by-step procedures for construction of a custom-made marmoset chair, head-cap implantation, preparation of the sharp electrode and guide tube, neuronal recording and data analysis. As the technique is practical and easy to adapt, we anticipate that it can also be applied to other mammalian models, including larger-size nonhuman primates.

由于一些艰巨的技术挑战，例如记录稳定性差和难以维持长期记录条件，从清醒的非人类灵长类动物的大脑中获得的细胞内神经元记录仍然难以获得。我们开发了一种通过使用同轴导管和锋利的电极组件来记录神经元活动的技术，该技术使研究人员能够在清醒的狨猴皮层中反复可靠地进行细胞内记录。来自单个神经元的录音持续几分钟到一个多小时。这种方法的一个关键优势是它不需要去除硬脑膜，允许在单个动物中进行数周和数月的记录。该协议描述了构建定制狨猴椅子、头帽植入、制备锋利的电极和导管，神经元记录和数据分析。由于该技术实用且易于适应，我们预计它也可以应用于其他哺乳动物模型，包括更大尺寸的非人类灵长类动物。