Wenbo Wang
Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China
Title: Miniature microdrive for locomotion control in freely moving lizard Gekko gecko
Biography
Biography: Wenbo Wang
Abstract
For neural stimulation and recording in neuro-ethology, different acustomized electrode micro drives are required for different unrestrained species. We specially designed and fabricated a novel electrode micro drive for studying the locomotion control of a freely moving Gekko gecko lizard. Opening the skull of the lizard was required for the implantation of the electrodes in the midbrain. The micro drive system consists mainly of a titanium case to protect the skull opening and shield the external signal and a screw-and-nut mechanism to drive the electrode plate. The miniature system has a volume of 9.6 mm × 9.8 mm × 11.8 mm and a mass of 2.05 g, which is suitable for the head morphology and loading capability of the lizard. The system was successfully applied to study the locomotion control of unrestrained Gekko gecko lizards, which exhibited diverse behaviors corresponding to various implantation depths of the electrodes and could be efficiently guided to a lateral orientation.