Figure 3.

Integrating the optic system into the microdrive. A, The assembled bottom and middle parts without insect pins, viewed from right side of the animal. Two locking pieces on the left side of the animal are slid into the grooves of the ferrules, the other two are simply indicated in their final position. B, Same assembly as in A, viewed from the front. C, Same assembly as in A, viewed from the top. Only the left occipital optic fiber is shown in full length, guided between the shuttles into the desired electrode hole. D, Fully assembled microdrive (for sake of clarity, insect pins are not shown, and the lid appears in pink). E, Dimensions of the metallic optic ferrule (gray) with an integrated PMMA optic fiber (blue). F, Photo of a microdrive with four optic fibers protruding from the electrode holes, three of them having polyimide tubing (yellow) in final position, while the tubing on the forth fiber is being mounted. Insect pins are visible on both sides. Note the conical tip of the PMMA fibers.