Chung, J. E. et al. Neuron 101, 21–31 (2019).

Large-scale single-unit recordings are typically acquired with silicon-based electrode arrays, but these inflexible devices can cause damage at the implant site. Chung et al. achieve larger-scale recordings with polymer-based electrode arrays. These electrodes are more flexible than silicon-based electrodes. However, single-unit recordings have not been practical so far. The researchers developed 32- and 64-channel devices with single-unit recording capabilities. These devices can be wired together in a modular fashion, thus allowing the recording of up to 1,024 channels from multiple brain regions. In different sets of experiments with rats, the researchers demonstrated concurrent recording from 375 units, data collection for 160 or more days, and continued recording from the same neurons over 10 days. The recordings were even stable while animals performed a learned spatial behavior task.