Electrical stimulation of nervous structures is a widely used experimental and clinical method to probe neural circuits, perform diagnostics, or treat neurological disorders. The recent introduction of soft materials to design electrodes that conform to and mimic neural tissue led to neural interfaces with improved functionality and biointegration. The shift from stiff to soft electrode materials requires adaptation of the models and characterization methods to understand and predict electrode performance. This guideline aims at providing (1) an overview of the most common techniques to test soft electrodes in vitro and in vivo; (2) a step-by-step design of a complete study protocol, from the lab bench to in vivo experiments; (3) a case study illustrating the characterization of soft spinal electrodes in rodents; and (4) examples of how interpreting characterization data can inform experimental decisions. Comprehensive characterization is paramount to advancing soft neurotechnology that meets the requisites for long-term functionality in vivo.

神经结构的电刺激是一种广泛使用的实验和临床方法，用于探测神经回路，进行诊断或治疗神经系统疾病。最近引入的软材料用于设计顺应并模仿神经组织的电极，从而导致神经界面的功能和生物整合性得到改善。从硬质到软质电极材料的转变需要对模型和表征方法进行调整，以理解和预测电极性能。本指南旨在（1）概述在体外和体内测试软电极的最常用技术；（2）从实验室工作台到体内的完整研究方案的分步设计实验；（3）一个案例研究，说明了啮齿动物中软脊柱电极的特征；（4）解释表征数据如何为实验决策提供依据的示例。全面的表征对于满足满足体内长期功能性要求的软神经技术至关重要。