Robots record brain activity inside neurons

Clamping an electrode to the brain cell of a living animal to record its electrical chatter is a task that demands finesse and patience. Known as'whole-cell patch-clamping', it is reputedly the "finest art in neuroscience", says neurobiologist Edward Boyden, and one that only a few dozen laboratories around the world specialize in. But researchers are trying to demystify this art by turning it into a streamlined, automated technique that any laboratory could attempt, using robotics and downloadable source code. "Patch-clamping provides a unique view into neural circuits, and it's a very exciting technique but is really underused," says neuroscientist Karel Svoboda at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus in Ashburn, Virginia. "That's why automation is a really, really exciting direction."