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Lab Facilities

The Nick Laboratory is 850 sq. ft. of electrophysiology, behavior, and histology heaven.

Our general facilities include

  • Millipore water purification unit.
  • Fume hood.
  • Three sinks.
  • Air, gas, and vacuum lines.
  • Dishwasher and dryer.
  • Separate physiology room for the intracellular rigs.
  • Refrigerator/Freezer and shared-use cold room.

Our major equipment includes

3 Chronic tetrode recording rigs. These rigs consist of an RF-shielded acoustic attenuation chamber (IAC), a custom-made mercury commutator and headstage controller, a 4-channel extracellular amplifier, an oscilloscope, an audio amplifier, and a dual Xeon Dell PC with an Aardvark DirectPro Analong-to-Digital converter. Software includes Sound Analysis Live (Tchernichovski et al., 2000).

In vivo intracellular recording rig. This rig consists of an RF-shielded acoustic attenuation chamber (IAC), a Sutter motorized micromanipulator, a Zeiss stereomicroscope, a TMC air table, a custom-made headpost stabilization unit, an Axon Multi-Clamp 700B, an oscilloscope, a Master-8 stimulator, an audio amplifier, and a dual Xeon Dell PC with an Aardvark DirectPro Analong-to-Digital converter. Software includes Sound Analysis Live (Tchernichovski et al., 2000).

Tissue slice intracellular recording rig. This rig consists of an upright microscope with IR-DIC optics, a Gibraltar platform, a Burleigh motorized micromanipulator, an Axon Multi-Clamp 700B, a TMC air table and Faraday cage, an oscilloscope, a Master-8 stimulator, an audio amplifier, and a dual Xeon Dell PC with an Aardvark DirectPro Analong-to-Digital converter.

Behavioral rig. This rig is dedicated to full-time recording of songs from up to 8 acoustic attenuation chambers. Software includes Sound Analysis Live (Tchernichovski et al., 2000).

10 large acoustic attenuation chambers. These chambers (Eckel) are dedicated to acoustically isolated sound recording and rearing of juveniles.

Sutter P-2000 Laser Electrode puller. This precision puller is used to make reliable micropipets for recording and injection.

Narishige filament electrode puller. This puller is used to pull wide-bore pipets for patch recording and injection.

Leica cryostat. The crystat is used to slice tissue for histological analysis.

Vibratome vibrating microtome. The vibratome is used to prepare slices for recording.