Bridging severed nerves in a mouse using Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs): Identifying artifact vs. neural signals suggests transmission was partially restored

Stimulation and recording of neural tissue are hallmarks of investigation of neural activity, especially the detection of action potentials. In this context, accurate analysis of curve-shapes holds significant value in distinguishing between neural activity compared to background noise and instrument artifacts. We report the remarkable observation that when probed using an electric field stimulation technique (EFS) in an in-vitro setting, control experiments that contain no neural tissue reproducibly produce curves in-distinguishable from experiments containing sources of neuronal activity. We additionally provide a physical model to explain the origin and behavior of such false-positive signals in relation to the buffer and neural circuits in the system. Lastly, we present data and analysis on in-vivo experiments using a mouse and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Our experiments detected a previously unreported dominant secondary pulse delayed over 16ms after the artifact signal. Comparing the intact, severed, and bridged (with CNTs) spinal cord suggests transmission of neural signals was partially restored.