Eavesdropping on the brain at sea: development of a surface-mounted system to detect weak electrophysiological signals from wild animals

Abstract Despite rapid advances in sensor development and technological miniaturization, it remains challenging to non-invasively record small-amplitude electrophysiological signals from an animal in its natural environment. Many advances in ecophysiology and biologging have arisen through sleep stu...

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Main Authors: Jessica M. Kendall-Bar, Ritika Mukherji, Jordan Nichols, Catherine Lopez, Daniel A. Lozano, Julie K. Pitman, Rachel R. Holser, Roxanne S. Beltran, Matt Schalles, Cara L. Field, Shawn P. Johnson, Alexei L. Vyssotski, Daniel P. Costa, Terrie M. Williams
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-05-01
Series:Animal Biotelemetry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-022-00287-x
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author Jessica M. Kendall-Bar
Ritika Mukherji
Jordan Nichols
Catherine Lopez
Daniel A. Lozano
Julie K. Pitman
Rachel R. Holser
Roxanne S. Beltran
Matt Schalles
Cara L. Field
Shawn P. Johnson
Alexei L. Vyssotski
Daniel P. Costa
Terrie M. Williams
author_facet Jessica M. Kendall-Bar
Ritika Mukherji
Jordan Nichols
Catherine Lopez
Daniel A. Lozano
Julie K. Pitman
Rachel R. Holser
Roxanne S. Beltran
Matt Schalles
Cara L. Field
Shawn P. Johnson
Alexei L. Vyssotski
Daniel P. Costa
Terrie M. Williams
author_sort Jessica M. Kendall-Bar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Despite rapid advances in sensor development and technological miniaturization, it remains challenging to non-invasively record small-amplitude electrophysiological signals from an animal in its natural environment. Many advances in ecophysiology and biologging have arisen through sleep studies, which rely on detecting small signals over multiple days and minimal disruption of natural animal behavior. This paper describes the development of a surface-mounted system that has allowed novel electrophysiological recordings of sleep in wild marine mammals. We discuss our iterative design process by providing sensor-comparison data, detailed technical illustrations, and material recommendations. We describe the system’s performance over multiple days in 12 freely moving northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) sleeping on land and in water in captivity and the wild. We leverage advances in signal processing by applying independent components analysis and inertial motion sensor calibrations to maximize signal quality across large (> 10 gigabyte), multi-day datasets. Our study adds to the suite of biologging tools available to scientists seeking to understand the physiology and behavior of wild animals in the context in which they evolved.
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spelling doaj.art-2666325e71334da69375edab4d08c4ad2022-12-22T00:38:28ZengBMCAnimal Biotelemetry2050-33852022-05-0110112210.1186/s40317-022-00287-xEavesdropping on the brain at sea: development of a surface-mounted system to detect weak electrophysiological signals from wild animalsJessica M. Kendall-Bar0Ritika Mukherji1Jordan Nichols2Catherine Lopez3Daniel A. Lozano4Julie K. Pitman5Rachel R. Holser6Roxanne S. Beltran7Matt Schalles8Cara L. Field9Shawn P. Johnson10Alexei L. Vyssotski11Daniel P. Costa12Terrie M. Williams13Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of CaliforniaMiranda House, University of DelhiEcology and Evolutionary Biology, University of CaliforniaScripps Research InstituteEcology and Evolutionary Biology, University of CaliforniaSleep Health MDInstitute of Marine Sciences, University of CaliforniaEcology and Evolutionary Biology, University of CaliforniaNeuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon UniversityThe Marine Mammal CenterSea Change HealthInstitute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of CaliforniaEcology and Evolutionary Biology, University of CaliforniaAbstract Despite rapid advances in sensor development and technological miniaturization, it remains challenging to non-invasively record small-amplitude electrophysiological signals from an animal in its natural environment. Many advances in ecophysiology and biologging have arisen through sleep studies, which rely on detecting small signals over multiple days and minimal disruption of natural animal behavior. This paper describes the development of a surface-mounted system that has allowed novel electrophysiological recordings of sleep in wild marine mammals. We discuss our iterative design process by providing sensor-comparison data, detailed technical illustrations, and material recommendations. We describe the system’s performance over multiple days in 12 freely moving northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) sleeping on land and in water in captivity and the wild. We leverage advances in signal processing by applying independent components analysis and inertial motion sensor calibrations to maximize signal quality across large (> 10 gigabyte), multi-day datasets. Our study adds to the suite of biologging tools available to scientists seeking to understand the physiology and behavior of wild animals in the context in which they evolved.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-022-00287-xNorthern elephant sealMirounga angustirostrisElectrocardiogramElectroencephalogramBrain activityHeart rate
spellingShingle Jessica M. Kendall-Bar
Ritika Mukherji
Jordan Nichols
Catherine Lopez
Daniel A. Lozano
Julie K. Pitman
Rachel R. Holser
Roxanne S. Beltran
Matt Schalles
Cara L. Field
Shawn P. Johnson
Alexei L. Vyssotski
Daniel P. Costa
Terrie M. Williams
Eavesdropping on the brain at sea: development of a surface-mounted system to detect weak electrophysiological signals from wild animals
Animal Biotelemetry
Northern elephant seal
Mirounga angustirostris
Electrocardiogram
Electroencephalogram
Brain activity
Heart rate
title Eavesdropping on the brain at sea: development of a surface-mounted system to detect weak electrophysiological signals from wild animals
title_full Eavesdropping on the brain at sea: development of a surface-mounted system to detect weak electrophysiological signals from wild animals
title_fullStr Eavesdropping on the brain at sea: development of a surface-mounted system to detect weak electrophysiological signals from wild animals
title_full_unstemmed Eavesdropping on the brain at sea: development of a surface-mounted system to detect weak electrophysiological signals from wild animals
title_short Eavesdropping on the brain at sea: development of a surface-mounted system to detect weak electrophysiological signals from wild animals
title_sort eavesdropping on the brain at sea development of a surface mounted system to detect weak electrophysiological signals from wild animals
topic Northern elephant seal
Mirounga angustirostris
Electrocardiogram
Electroencephalogram
Brain activity
Heart rate
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-022-00287-x
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