Why
NeuroMAX?
Overview
The goal of the NeuroMAX project is to develop a MATLAB-based
software toolbox for the analysis of single-unit and multi-unit
recordings. NeuroMAX provides neuroscientists with a sophisticated,
state of the art, single-unit and multi-unit spike train
analysis tool suite that is extendable, standardized, and
collaborative. It incorporates standard, published techniques
in addition to novel algorithms based on advanced signal
processing methods and information theoretic research.
As stated by the Biomedical Information Science and Technology
Initiative (BISTI), “neurobiologists working on the
brain's ability to process information are limited not by
their ideas, but by the tools to create realistic models
of brain function. Until recently, neurobiologists have
been able to record only the activity of single cells; new
technological advances allow them to record from hundreds
or even thousands of cells at the same time. With that breakthrough,
the focus has turned to creating the techniques that will
allow monitoring and analysis of the large numbers of neurons
involved in specific behaviors. The data and the computational
power are available; neurobiologists need to address the
bigger issue of manipulating their data.”
To begin addressing this issue, NeuroMAX provides a powerful,
flexible, and supported solution to specific deficiencies
of software tools currently available to the electrophysiology
community. One of these deficiencies is the inability of
researchers to easily collaborate and share algorithms and
processing results due to the lack of a consistent data
processing and results visualization software platform.
Another deficiency is the absence of needed analysis tools
for multi-unit neural data. Currently, there is no easy
way for another group of researchers to easily use, extend,
generalize, or compare to another method, software produced
by a laboratory because there is neither a standardized
platform nor a repository of spike analysis software tools
and evaluated data for test and evaluation of new analysis
techniques. NeuroMAX provides toolbox modules with standard
tools, visualization tools, and data input and output capabilities
that encourage the researcher-developer to build on to or
modify our existing toolbox rather than to start from scratch.
Powerful
Our toolbox approach lets you link any combination of NeuroMAX
spike detection, sorting, and analysis algorithms (tools) for
a personalized analysis workspace. And, because we’ve
used MATLAB’s powerful Object Oriented Programming (OOP)
architecture, you’ll have all the OOP Classes, Objects,
and Methods necessary to create unique analysis algorithms for
your specific research requirements. Using NeuroMAX tool guidelines,
you’ll add your custom tools to a NeuroMAX toolbox so
it can be incorporated into the linked chain of tools. A graphical
user interface will be automatically generated for your new
tool. This approach lets you easily benefit from the built-in
NeuroMAX visualization tools, but still enjoy the ease of programming
MATLAB mfiles.
Save time by using your representative data segment to set
parameters for individual tools. Then run the complete data
set through the entire analysis process unattended, offline,
for a detailed look into the meaning of your particular spike
train data.
Flexible
NeuroMAX spike detection, sorting, and event analysis tools
employ both standard, published research procedures and the
latest methods derived from advanced signal processing techniques
and information theoretic research. Our flexible, expandable
toolbox facilitates development of new methods and research
into method comparisons to improve your understanding of neural
code.
Input data is standard Neuroshare Native (NsN) data file
format, providing compatibility with the most powerful and
widely used data acquisition systems on the market. For NsN
format details, please visit http://neuroshare.sourceforge.net/index.shtml.
Standardized MATLAB® GUI screens provide easy, intuitive
operation. NeuroMAX tools are also directly accessible from
the MATLAB® command line.
Add your lab’s analysis tools to the NeuroMAX toolbox
to share with other researchers working on similar problems.
You’ll receive acknowledgement for development and addition
of your tool.
Supported
NeuroMAX is a complete commercial package, developed under
NIH-SBIR grants, rather than a “homegrown” software
product.
The disadvantage of “homegrown” software is summarized
in the report of the Biomedical Information Science and Technology
Initiative (BISTI) working group: “Biomedical computing
needs software tools to take advantage of the hardware. Often
the software is cobbled together by graduate students with
little programming knowledge, for use by those whose expectations
are bound by the immediate problem. The application may be
used once, then abandoned when the problem is solved, the
graduate student moves on, or the technology changes. The
publication goes out, but the tools remain in the laboratory
(National Institutes of Health, 1999).”
In a further effort to support NeuroMAX, all NeuroMAX tools
include a sample data set that users can use to become familiar
with the technique and how it works.
Confidence
Have confidence in your analysis results: perform metric-based
calculations of spike sorting accuracy with the Quantification/Accuracy
(QAcc) tool. Then, create publication-ready graphics displays
of analyzed data with the WaveformDisplayTool.
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