Multiunit, multielectrode spike sorting software

描述（由申请人提供）：多个细胞外电极可以协同使用来记录神经群的活动，阐明神经元编码、处理、学习和保留信息的复杂过程。因为有证据表明，信息编码涉及神经元群的协调活动，因此对整个神经群的同时记录对于理解编码是必要的。然而，在由此产生的复杂数据记录中，个体神经信号往往难以区分。因此，大多数收集多电极数据的研究人员还必须开发自己的数据处理软件，以确定动作电位的发生时间，或从记录的神经群中确定“尖峰”，这一过程被称为“尖峰排序”。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Multiple extracellular electrodes can be used in concert to record the activity of a neural population, elucidating the complex process by which neurons code, process, learn, and retain information. Because evidence suggests that information coding involves coordinated activity of groups of neurons, such simultaneous recordings of whole neural populations are necessary for understanding coding. However, in the complex data records that result, individual neural signals are often difficult to distinguish. As a result, most researchers who collect multielectrode data must also develop their own data-processing software to determine the time-of-occurrence of action potentials, or "spikes" from the recorded neural population, a process known as "spike-sorting." The objective of this project is to develop MATLAB software toolbox for multichannel, multielectrode spike sorting that consolidates a variety of spike-sorting solutions and that incorporates state-of-the-art algorithms using advanced signal processing techniques. This will be the first commercial software package to offer effective solutions to two major spike-sorting difficulties: discrimination and identification of spike superpositions, and quantification of spike-sorting accuracy. In addition, the product will be open-source to allow users to easily add or modify modules and promote algorithm comparisons and sharing between investigators.