Embodied neuronal assemblies: A closed-loop environment for coding and decoding studies

Behaviors, from simple to most complex, require a two-way interaction between brain and the environment and the contribution of different brain areas depending on the orchestrated activation of neuronal assemblies. We used cultured networks coupled to Micro Electrode Arrays - MEAs as a simplified model system to investigate the computational properties of neuronal assemblies. The proposed neuro-robotic framework provided a suitable experimental environment for embodied electrophysiology as it allowed long-term multisite recording and stimulation in a closed-loop configuration. Here we present the realized system and a novel experimental protocol that can be conveniently used to study coding mechanisms in neuronal systems.