Table Of ContentELECTROCHEMICAL METHODS for
NEUROSCIENCE
ELECTROCHEMICAL METHODS for
NEUROSCIENCE
Edited by
Adrian C. Michael
University of Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
Laura M. Borland
University of Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
Boca Raton London New York
CRC Press is an imprint of the
Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
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International Standard Book Number‑10: 0‑8493‑4075‑6 (Hardcover)
International Standard Book Number‑13: 978‑0‑8493‑4075‑8 (Hardcover)
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Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
Electrochemical methods for neuroscience / [edited by] Adrian C. Michael & Laura M. Borland.
p. ; cm. ‑‑ (Frontiers in neuroengineering series ; 1)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN‑13: 978‑0‑8493‑4075‑8 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN‑10: 0‑8493‑4075‑6 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. Neurochemistry. 2. Electrochemical analysis. I. Michael, Adrian C. II. Borland, Laura M. III.
Title. IV. Series.
[DNLM: 1. Electrochemistry‑‑methods. 2. Neurochemistry‑‑methods. 3. Biosensing
Techniques‑‑methods. 4. Neurotransmitter Agents‑‑metabolism. QD 115 E379 2007]
QP356.3.E44 2007
612.8’042‑‑dc22 2006031628
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
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Series Preface
TheFrontiersinNeuroengineeringseriespresentstheinsightsofexpertsonemergingexperimental
techniquesandtheoreticalconceptsthatareorwillbeatthevanguardofneuroscience.Booksinthe
seriescovertopicsrangingfrommethodstoinvestigateapoptosistomoderntechniquesforneural
ensemble recordings in behaving animals. The series also covers new and exciting multidisci-
plinary areas of brain research, such as computational neuroscience and neuroengineering, and
describes breakthroughs in fields like insect sensory neuroscience, primate audition, and biome-
dical engineering. The goal is for this series to be the reference that every neuroscientist uses in
order to get acquainted with new methodologies in brain research. These books can be given to
graduatestudentsandpostdoctoralfellowswhentheyarelookingforguidancetostartanewlineof
research.
Eachbookiseditedbyanexpertandconsistsofchapterswrittenbytheleadersinaparticular
field. Books are richly illustrated and contain comprehensive bibliographies. Chapters provide
substantial background material relevant to the particular subject. Hence, they are not the usual
typeofmethodbooks.Theycontaindetailed“tricksofthetrade”andinformationastowherethese
methodscanbesafelyapplied.Inaddition,theyincludeinformationaboutwheretobuyequipment
and web sites helpful in solving both practical and theoretical problems. Finally, they present
detailed discussionsof the present knowledge ofthe field andwhere it should go.
Wehopethat,asthevolumesbecomeavailable,theeffortputinbyus,thepublisher,thebook
editors,andtheindividualauthorswillcontributetothefurtherdevelopmentofbrainresearch.The
extent to which we achieve this goal will be determinedby the utility ofthese books.
SidneyA.Simon, Ph.D.
Miguel A.L. Nicolelis, M.D., Ph.D.
Series Editors
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Preface
Electrochemicalmethodsofanalysisaremorefrequentlyplayingacentralroleinachievingoneof
theprimeobjectivesofneuroscienceresearch,theunderstandingoftheroleofspecificneurotrans-
mitters in normal brain function and the pathophysiology of central nervous system disorders.
About thirty five years ago, Ralph N. Adams at the University of Kansas took the first step of
implantingacarbonmicroelectrodeintothebrainofaratinanefforttomeasuretheextracellular
concentration of catecholamine neurotransmitters. Subsequent years were spent sorting out the
meanings of electrochemical responses observed under various experimental conditions and
reliable identification of what was being detected was accomplished by the time that Jay Justice
summarized the field in his 1987 volume Voltammetry in the Neurosciences. Technical progress
continuedthroughthe1990stothisday,leadingtoadvancesinthecontributionofelectrochemical
methods to the understanding of brain function. The efforts of numerous research groups, many
represented in the chapters of this book, have enhanced the sensitivity, selectivity and spatio-
temporal resolution of electrochemical techniques tothe point that they now provideinformation
that is not accessible by any other means. The objective of this book is to provide the interested
readerwithanupdatedsummaryofthepresent,albeitstillevolving,stateoftheartandtoestablish
thebasisuponwhichtoreachsounddecisionsaboutincorporatingelectrochemicaltechniquesinto
ongoingor newly emerging researchprograms inthe neuroscience disciplines.
We are indebted to many individuals without whom this volume would not have reached
fruition. We are certainly grateful to the series editors, Sid Simon and Miguel Nicolelis, for
encouraging us to embark upon this project. Sid’s enthusiasm is unrelenting, to say the least!
WearealsogratefultoBarbaraNorwitzandJillJurgensenofTaylor&Francisfortheirassistance,
encouragement,andpatience.Finally,itgoeswithoutsayingthatthisvolumewouldnothavebeen
completed were it not for the willing efforts of the contributing authors. We apologize to the
numerous groups making invaluable contributions to the field whom we were unable to invite to
contributeachapter.Itwasnotourobjectivetocoverthefieldexhaustively,butrathertoprovidea
samplingthatwouldintroduceandorientthenewcomertothefundamentalaspectsandapplications
ofelectrochemistry in the neurosciences.
Adrian C.Michael
Laura M. Borland
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Editors
AdrianC.Michaelbeganhiscareerinelectrochemistryasagraduatestudentinthelaboratoryof
JosephB.Justice,Jr.,intheDepartmentofChemistryatEmoryUniversityinAtlanta,Georgia.He
held postdoctoral positions with R. Mark Wightman in the Department of Chemistry at Indiana
University in Bloomington, Indiana, and with Adam Heller in the Department of Chemical and
PetroleumEngineeringattheUniversityofTexasatAustin,Texas.Hehasbeenamemberofthe
Department of Chemistry and the Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh since
1990. His research group applies voltammetry to in vivo measurements of dopamine and has
developedenzyme-modifiedmicroelectrodesfortheinvivoamperometricdetectionofglutamate.
He is an active member of the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied
Spectroscopy, which organizes the annual Pittcon Conference and Exposition. He is also an
active member ofthe Societyfor Analytical Chemistsof Pittsburgh.
Laura M. Borland obtained her Ph.D. in the Department of Chemistry at the University of
PittsburghunderthedirectionofAdrianMichael.Atthetimethisbiographywasprepared,shewas
apostdoctoralfellowinthelaboratoryofNancyAllbrittonattheUniversityofCaliforniaatIrvine,
California.
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