Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are a valuable tool for recording and measuring neuronal activity. This technology allows us to evaluate in real time how neuronal activity behaves in an environmentally controlled environment. In addition to spontaneous neuronal activity, electrical or compound stimulation can be performed, and over 40 different parameters are recorded simultaneously.
Neurons communicate through electrical signals, referred to as action potentials. These signals travel along the axon and trigger the release of neurotransmitters at the synapses. To record and quantify these action potentials, MEAs serve as valuable tools. They consist of very small electrodes embedded in a multi-well plate format. Neurons can be cultured on top of these electrodes, allowing for the detection of their electrical activity. This is very useful for evaluating how compounds of interest modify neuronal activity, providing valuable insights into the complex dynamics of electrical activity in a network of neurons.