A simple miniature device for wireless stimulation of neural circuits in small behaving animals

The use of wireless neural stimulation devices offers significant advantages for neural stimulation experiments in behaving animals. We demonstrate a simple, low-cost and extremely lightweight wireless neural stimulation device which is made from off-the-shelf components. The device has low power consumption and does not require a high-power RF preamplifier. Neural stimulation can be carried out in either a voltage source mode or a current source mode. Using the device, we carry out wireless stimulation in the premotor brain area HVC of a songbird and demonstrate that such stimulation causes rapid perturbations of the acoustic structure of the song.

► We describe a device for wireless neural stimulation of neural circuits.
► The device is lightweight and is easy to construct.
► The device requires no high-power RF preamplifier.
► The device performance is demonstrated by stimulating neural circuits in a songbird.