Electrophysiological Recordings & Analysis

Parameters are evaluated from the raw electrophysiological data both on single-spike and network level. Beyond properties of action potential waveforms, they include spike and burst parameters and detailed characteristics of network-driven neuronal firing patterns like correlations and synchrony. A specifically designed software automatically generates dose response curves from test series.

In order to automatically analyze the vast amount of data produced by serial measurements on MEAs (60 channels at 25 kHz yield approx. 550 MB of raw data in 3 minutes), we developed the proprietary software SPANNER^TM (Spike Analysis for Neural Networks). SPANNER runs in batch mode and requires no further user interaction once the analysis parameters have been selected.

It supports the application of arbitrary digital (FIR- and IIR-) filters to the raw data, automatic adaption of channel-specific spike-threshold calculated from an initial learning phase, and provides the results of the analysis as Excel spreadsheets or text files that may be imported to Origin or Sigma Plot, as well as a data interface to Matlab - e.g. for the calculation of principal component analyses.

Generated graphs include spike raster plots, spike overlay plots, spike- and burst-rate plots for all channels.

If selected, an overview “synopsis” file is generated, facilitating the comparison of data across various files of a measurement series.

In the near future a time-limited shareware version of SPANNER will be available from our download page. This will also include a detailed helpfile.

Currently the version SPANNER XBD 2.0 is available. To order please contact theiss@result-medical.com. References can be obtained from Prof. Dr. M. Siebler, Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf.

Last modified 02/07/06 06:32                             Upward