Software for the Analysis of Neural Data

描述（申请人提供）：神经科学家获取越来越多的单通道、多通道和时空数据，需要高质量的软件工具进行预处理、探索和分析。这些工具对于解决紧迫的神经科学问题至关重要，例如神经密码的性质以及许多神经元在感知和行为中的相关活动的作用。虽然有几个小组开发了供内部使用的相关工具，但目前还没有适合多种数据类型和格式的软件系统，可用于大量数据，具有高质量的数字，并有专业文档和维护。这样的软件系统将通过以下途径加强神经科学研究：(a)为缺乏内部资源的小组提供高级分析工具，(b)减少小组之间的重复工作，(c)允许更充分地利用生理数据集，以及(d)改善小组之间的结果交流。在过去的五年中，PI及其同事开发了一套精确的工具。它们被全球超过24个实验室用于研究，在海洋生物实验室的神经信息学课程中用于教学，并导致超过25种出版物。为了响应许多请求，该拨款的目的是继续开发、维护和分发Chronux，这是一种用于神经生物学时间序列数据高级分析的开源软件包。具体目标是：1.；进一步发展和维护一个数值分析库。最初的重点将放在电生理数据上，包括尖峰信号和连续信号（EEG/MEG/LFP），但后来的版本将提供专门用于图像时间序列数据的例程。2. 包含一个用于多种神经生物学数据和元数据格式的I/O库，包括一组针对许多现有格式的过滤器，以及此类过滤器的通用规范。3. 开发一个图形用户界面，以方便典型的神经科学家使用。4. Chronux的文档、分发、维护和质量保证。我们将通过反馈过程与大约24个实验室和MBL的神经信息学课程密切合作，以确保Chronux的质量和可用性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Neuroscientists acquire single-channel, multichannel, and spatiotemporal data in ever-increasing quantities and need high-quality software tools for preprocessing, exploration, and analysis. Such tools are critical to addressing pressing neuroscientific questions, such as the nature of the neural code and the role of correlated activity of many neurons in perception and behavior. While several groups have developed related tools for internal use, there is currently no software system suitable for multiple data types and formats, usable for large volumes of data, with high-quality numerics, and professionally documented and maintained. Such a software system would enhance neuroscience research by (a) providing access to advanced analytical tools to groups that lack the resources to create them internally, (b) reducing the duplication of effort across groups, (c) allowing for a fuller utilization of physiological data sets, and (d) improving the communication of results between groups. Over the past five years, precisely such a set of tools have been developed by the PI and colleagues. These are in use in over 24 laboratories worldwide for research, in the Neuroinformatics course at the Marine Biological Laboratories for pedagogy, and have led to over 25 publications. In response to many requests, demonstrated by the approximately 24 appended letters, the aim of this grant is the continued development, maintenance and distribution of Chronux, an open source software package for advanced analysis of neurobiological time series data. Specific aims are: 1. Further development and maintenance of a numerical analysis library. Initial emphasis will be on electrophysiological data, both spikes and continuous signals (EEG/MEG/LFP), but later releases will provide routines specialized for image time series data. 2. Incorporation of an I/O library for multiple neurobiological data and metadata formats, consisting of a set of filters to a number of existing formats, along with a general specification for such filters. 3. Development of a graphical user interface, to facilitate use by the typical neuroscientist. 4. Documentation, distribution, maintenance and quality assurance for Chronux. We will work closely with approximately 24 laboratories and the Neuroinformatics course at the MBL via a feedback process to ensure the quality and usability of Chronux.