Methods to analyze spatio-temporal patterns of electrical activities in living neuronal networks

We developed a new method to estimate functional connectivity between cultured neurons without any stimulation. Spontaneous spikes of action potentials were recorded by multielectrode arrays and "connection map analysis" was performed. Functional connectivity map was generated from spatio-temporal pattern of spontaneous action potentials in dissociated neurons. "Connectivity map analysis" revealed that the functional connectivity between neurons changed drastically by the induction of synaptic potentiation in living neuronal networks cultured on a multielectrode array.