Human Single Neuron Recordings

This chapter describes the history and current state-of-the-art techniques of recording from single neurons in humans. In collaboration with neurosurgeons and neurologists and while strictly adhering to ethical principles, this technique allows the study of cognitive processes in humans at the cellular level. We describe the settings within which single neuron data is commonly collected, ranging from epilepsy monitoring, deep brain stimulation surgery and brain-machine interface clinical trials. We further review technological advancement that allow simultaneous recordings of many neurons. The data collected offer unprecedented circuit-level insights into the neuronal bases of human cognition and build a bridge between animal and human neuroscience. We conclude by summarizing example findings that demonstrate the powerful scientific insights that can be revealed by human single neuron recordings.