A Modular Analog Front-End for the Recording of Neural Spikes and Local Field Potentials within a Neural Measurement System

The measurement of neural signals is mandatory for an extensive and detailed understanding of the cortex. A parallel recording of multiple recording channels and varying neural signal types is required in order to cover a high density of neural information. Therefore, analog front-ends are required which record signals from the micro-mechanical electrodes and preprocesses these data for a transmission out of the brain. This paper presents an analog front-end for the recording of local field potentials and neural spikes. A modular approach is applied that enables the integration within a complete system or the operation as a single component. The use of configurable recording channels provides the capability to adjust the channels, dependent on the signal type of interest. The proposed front-end has been fabricated in a 0.35 mu m-CMOS process, and performance values are demonstrated by measurements. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.