NeuroMAX
Toolbox: Overview
Description
NeuroMAX is a MATLAB-based software toolbox
for the analysis of spike train data. You’ll use NeuroMAX
to create a chain of powerful analysis tools that meet your
specific research goals. This tool chain, or Workspace, can
be any combination of packaged NeuroMAX tools and your own
custom MATLAB-based tools.
NeuroMAX tools are grouped into four toolboxes: Spike Detection,
Spike Sorting, Spike Train Analysis, and Display Tools.
For a summary of a particular toolbox, select the matching
button to the left. From there, you can access individual
tools within that toolbox.
Using MATLAB’s proven programming structure, you
can easily convert your unique analysis algorithms into
an additional tool in one of the NeuroMAX toolboxes
Downloading NeuroMAX Tools
Each NeuroMAX tool is available as part of the NeuroMAX Toolbox
and as MATLAB command line code (.m file). We encourage you
to download either an evaluation copy of the NeuroMAX toolbox,
or m-files of selected analysis tools that are of particular
interest to you. These command line tools can be run directly
from MATLAB. Download a sample Neuroshare Native (NsN) data
file and put our tools to the test, or use the tools to perform
individual analyses on your own NsN data. A PDF instruction
file is included with each tool.
If you’ve already registered as a “Visitor”,
click DOWNLOAD to continue to the download page. Otherwise,
click REGISTER and continue with the quick visitor registration
page. You’ll then be lead to the Download page. You can
also access the Download page directly from any individual tool
page.
The NeuroMAX Workspace
File Compatibility:
To provide maximum compatibility with a large
variety of commercial data acquisition systems, NeuroMAX toolboxes
operate on data files saved to the NsN data file format. The
output of each NeuroMAX tool is also an .nsn file, based on
NsN specifications. For details about the NsN format, please
visit http://neuroshare.sourceforge.net/index.shtml
Parameter Settings:
All NeuroMAX tools come with default parameters
so you see immediate feedback of tool operation on a given
data set. Of course, you can also create a customized set
of parameters to reveal specific information from your unique
recording session.
Data Processing Protocol:
The combination of large raw data files (multiple channels
and long recording times) and complex analysis sequences can
lead to frustratingly long screen update rates, particularly
during the parameter setup process. To solve this problem,
NeuroMAX incorporates a distinctive feature called the “Analysis
Segment”. This segment is small enough to be easily
processed in MATLAB, but large enough to be representative
of the raw data file.
The selected Analysis Segment is re-analyzed as you change
a tool’s parameters, and the results are graphed in
the tool’s display screen. This lets you visually verify
the settings by reviewing displays of analyzed segments prior
to processing the entire data file. You can choose an immediate
display update as you modify each parameter, or opt for a
delayed graphics update, letting you change multiple settings
prior to a screen rewrite.
Once you are satisfied with each tool’s parameter settings,
simply apply the tool chain to the complete input data set
in an offline, non-interactive mode. The input to each tool
is either raw data, or the output from a previous tool. The
analyzed result of each tool is saved as an .nsn file. You
also have access to intermediate results from each tool application.
Flexible Graphics Displays:
A major component of neuroscience research is the publication
of data and papers. All NeuroMAX tool modules allow display
axes to be exported to standard MATLAB figure windows that
can be annotated and saved in various image formats.
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