My first introduction to probe implants was using a drive that was completely incased in dental cement. The probe was not recoverable, and the drive was three times as expensive. R2Drives completely changed things for me. The R2Drives make probe implants and explants easy. I’m now able to reuse probes several times over, and the R2Drive remains reliable throughout reuse.

Laura Berkowitz, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Schaffer-Nishimura lab, Cornell University

What model system do you use?

Mouse - freely moving and headfixed. I have used rats in the past.

How many probes do you implant?

1

How long do the experiments take?

2 – 6 months

How often can you reuse the probes?

I have recovered 100% of my probes with the R2Drive, and reuse them at least 3 times (depending on the proportion of good channels).

Laura's research

Studying how circuits supports spatial navigation and orientation are altered by neurodegenerative processes.

In a nutshell

We investigate how hippocampal physiology is altered in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, with a particular focus on the impact of reduced blood flow on memory-related processes. Using silicon probes, we record neural activity to capture physiological signatures of memory and develop optogenetic strategies for closed-loop therapeutic interventions.

Check out our lab's and my personal websites for more info!

My first introduction to probe implants was using a drive that was completely incased in dental cement. The probe was not recoverable, and the drive was three times as expensive. R2Drives completely changed things for me. The R2Drives make probe implants and explants easy. I’m now able to reuse probes several times over, and the R2Drive remains reliable throughout reuse.

Publications

Isaacson, M., Chang, H., Berkowitz, L. et al. MouseGoggles: an immersive virtual reality headset for mouse neuroscience and behavior. Nat Methods 22, 380–385 (2025).

Last updated: February 27, 2025