Animal Model
Non-human species used in research to study biological and behavioral processes, serving as proxies for human physiology.
An animal model is a non-human species used in research to study biological and behavioral processes, often serving as a proxy for human physiology and disease.
Why it matters: Virtually all in vivo electrophysiology research uses animal models. Probe selection, package design, surgical approach, and experimental protocol all depend on the species.
Common models: Mouse (most common, transgenic lines available), rat (larger brain, classic model), non-human primate (NHP, closest to human), and others (ferret, cat, pig, sheep) for specialized applications.
Probe selection implications: Smaller animals (mouse) require thinner, shorter probes with smaller packages. Larger animals (NHP) can accommodate deeper, multi-shank arrays. Chronic implant hardware must match the animal's size and behavior.