Plating over internal reference electrode

We are culturing rat cortical neurons onto the MEAs(200/30 with internal reference electrode) and we would like to know if we can culture over the entire surface or do we need to restrict culturing to the electrode array area only so that our cells do not plate down onto the reference electrode?

Will plating cells over the reference electrode affect the signal that is detected?

Thanks!

Deat TC,
you can plate the cells over the reference too, no problem. This should not influence the signals you get, or the noise level.

Frank MCS