Introductory overview of research instruments for recording the electricalactivity of neurons in the human brain

Scientific advancement is often spurred by the development of new instrumen ts for investigation. Over the last several decades, many new instruments h ave been produced to further our understanding of the physiology of the hum an brain. We present a partial overview of some of these instruments, payin g particular attention to those which record the electrical activity of the human brain. We preface the review with a brief primer on neuroanatomy and physiology, followed by a discussion of the latest types of apparatus used to investigate various properties of the central nervous system. A special focus is on microelectrode investigations that employ both intracellular a nd extracellular methods of recording the electrical activity of single neu rons; another is on the modern electroencephalographic, electrocorticograph ic, and magnetoencephalographic methods used to study the spontaneous and e voked field potentials of the brain. Some examples of clinical applications are included, where appropriate. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [ S0034-6748(98)00112-9].