Chronic wireless neural population recordings with common marmosets

SUMMARY Marmosets are an increasingly important model system for neuroscience in part due to genetic tractability and enhanced cortical accessibility, due to a lissencephalic neocortex. However, many of the techniques generally employed to record neural activity in primates inhibit the expression of natural behaviors in marmosets precluding neurophysiological insights. To address this challenge, we developed methods for recording neural population activity in unrestrained marmosets across multiple ethological behaviors, multiple brain states, and over multiple years. Notably, our flexible methodological design allows for replacing electrode arrays and removal of implants providing alternative experimental endpoints. We validate the method by recording sensorimotor cortical population activity in freely moving marmosets across their natural behavioral repertoire and during sleep. HIGHLIGHTS – Simultaneous and chronic wireless neural population recordings in multiple freely moving marmosets – Neural recording approach enables studies of natural repertoire of behaviors and sleep – Methyl-methacrylate free surgical approach designed to promote biocompatibility and longitudinal success of the implant – Modular headstage configuration requires minimal daily animal handling for daily neural recordings – Alternative experimental endpoints: implant removal, healing, and electrode array replacement