Chronic implantable flexible serpentine probe reveals impaired spatial coding of place cells in epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, characterized by recurrent seizures and often accompanied by cognitive impairments that significantly affect patients' quality of life. Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying these cognitive deficits has been a longstanding challenge in neuroscience.

To address this, the research team designed a parylene-based flexible serpentine probe inspired by the morphology of snakes. "The wavy, curved structure of the probe allows it to anchor firmly within the brain tissue, minimizing movement and ensuring consistent, high-quality neural recordings over extended periods," said Prof. Cai.

In vivo experiments demonstrated that the flexible serpentine probes maintained stable neural recordings for over eight months in mice. Using these probes, the team investigated the neural basis of cognitive deficits in temporal lobe epilepsy. By analyzing the activity of hippocampal place cells—neurons critical for spatial navigation—the researchers found that epilepsy disrupts spatial encoding, correlating with observed cognitive impairments.

"Our findings provide valuable insights into how epilepsy affects neural circuits responsible for cognitive functions," Prof. Cai explained. "The ability to monitor neuronal activity over such a long period opens new avenues for studying chronic neurological disorders and developing potential therapeutic strategies."

The flexible probe's design not only improves the stability and longevity of neural recordings but also holds promise for future applications in brain-computer interfaces and neural prosthetics. Its biocompatibility and minimal invasiveness make it a strong candidate for clinical translation.

This research was supported by multiple funding sources, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Key Research and Development Program of China.

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