Technique for chronic electrode or cannula implantation in decorticate animals.

A surgical technique is described which enables chronic recording of electrophysiological activity and chemical or electrical stimulation in the decorticated animal. This procedure circumvents the problems of inadequate electrode/cannula patency and of the short-term debilitating consequences of cortical ablation. These features make it possible to analyze the relationships between neuroelectrophysiology, behavior and the central mechanisms underlying the restitution of function following brain damage. The procedure appears to be suitable for a wide range of mature laboratory animals and offers several advantages over the few techniques currently available.