The recording technique of microelectrode arrays provides an ideal means for obtaining the large amount of neuronal electric activity

simultaneously.The technique has significant impacts on the intensive investigations for the mechanisms of neurons and their networks

as well as on the development of novel neural prosthetic and therapeutic devices.Utah microelectrode and Michigan microelectrode are two major types of rapidly developed electrode arrays that have been used in neural signal detections in-vivo.In this paper

the manufacture

the structure

the feature and the application of both types of electrode are compared.The principles and methods for the detection and analysis of neural field potentials and unit activity by using the electrode arrays are described.In addition

the challenges and further development in electrode fabrication

in neural signal recording and in signal processing are discussed.