The SUNAN (Single Unit Neurophysiological Architecture of the Neocortex) study aims to understand how individual brain cells called neurons interact and communicate, and how the neurons can be affected in neurological disease. Using an advanced digital probe called the "Neuropixels probe," which is as thin as a human hair, the investigators can record electrical activity from individual neurons on the outmost layer of the brain (cerebral cortex). This electrical (neurophysiological) activity recording technique allows the investigators to isolate and monitor single-neuron activity from the human brain during planned neurosurgical operations in real time.
The SUNAN study plans to recruit fifty patients scheduled for brain surgery, such as for tumour removal or operations that involve the fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) within the brain, at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. Participation is voluntary, and the suitability will be assessed by the participant's neurosurgeon. Patients who participate in SUNAN will undergo their planned neurosurgery as per standard of care with the additional step of a neurophysiological recording made from the brain using a Neuropixels probe. This recording step and the data collected will not affect the rest of the patients care which will proceed in the usual way and the data is collected solely for scientific purposes. The investigators believe that the insights gained from these electrical recordings from individual neurons will deepen our understanding of brain function and potentially lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
50
The SUNAN study is a basic science study involving a procedure to record single-unit neurophysiological activity with human participants who are already undergoing a transcranial neurosurgical procedure on the brain. As part of the surgery, a region of cerebral cortex on the convexity of the brain will be: * Resected e.g., as removal of part of a tumour or epilepsy focused. Or * Transgressed as part of the surgical approach to reach a deeper target e.g., resection of a deep tumour or cavernoma. Or • Transgressed by the passage of a surgical implant e.g., a ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter or deep brain stimulation electrode. Within this region of the brain that is going to be resected or transgressed, the research team will undertake a single-unit resolution neurophysiological recording (NR) using a digital neural probe (Neuropixels) for a maximum of 15 minutes.
Single units isolated
Outcome name - Descriptive reporting on the number of well isolated single neuronal units observed during neurophysiological recording of the brain during planned neurosurgery. Metric/method of measurement - Neurophysiological activity of the brain will be described through analysis of electrical activity recorded. The detection of spikes represents depolarisation of single neuronal units ("single-units"). Well isolated single-units will be defined by clustering metrics, interval spike interval violations and/or other neurophysiological analysis. Descriptive reporting will include the number of individual units recorded, their spiking rates and correlation.
Time frame: Timepoint - At time of planned neurosurgery.
Experience of using large scale single-unit recording
Secondary outcome measures will be reported for each participant to gather information on the recording technique. For example, a description of the recording setting may include the arrangement of ground and reference electrodes as well as the operative set-up. Reporting on the experience of using large scale single-unit recording techniques in humans undergoing neurosurgery.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Iterations made to the surgical and electrophysiological technique
Reporting on iterations made to the surgical and electrophysiological technique over the course of the study.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Potential refinements in technique
Reporting on potential refinements that could be made to the described technique which could enable better quality data and that could be of benefit to other researchers conducting similar work. For example, equipment set-up/noise restrictions in theatre.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
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