Monkey Business
Research is much more freeform than I previously understood it to be. Of course there are guidelines one sets out for oneself, but it seems like unexpected challenges arise the moment things begin. For me, this happened when the researchers who were to provide us with flexible electrode arrays got new equipment. This equipment, a supposed upgrade, didn't behave like the old equipment. "A calibration issue," I was told, "two weeks and we will have it figured out." Two weeks went by, and I was told two more. A month turned into two, then three, then we decided to attempt fabricating our own (albeit more crude) version of the electrode array. A tissue program (trial) surgery proved that to be futile. The space around the spinal cord was much too narrow to safely implant our design in a monkey that we intended to work with long term. I was running out of time to start gathering my data, so I made the important decision to switch gears and focus the same questions on the cortical electrodes.
How does stimulation affect the change in impedance of cortical and intracortical electrodes? How can this impedance change be mediated? That is a question that I am still trying to answer, but the process has enlightened me to the inner workings of a laboratory. There will always be problems that need to be worked through or around. There will always be those who disagree with your hypotheses; but a support network of brilliant minds is there to help you along.
How does stimulation affect the change in impedance of cortical and intracortical electrodes? How can this impedance change be mediated? That is a question that I am still trying to answer, but the process has enlightened me to the inner workings of a laboratory. There will always be problems that need to be worked through or around. There will always be those who disagree with your hypotheses; but a support network of brilliant minds is there to help you along.