Software for the Analysis of Neural Data

描述(申请人提供)：神经科学家获取数量不断增加的单通道、多通道和时空数据，需要高质量的软件工具来进行预处理、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，比如神经编码的性质，以及许多神经元的相关活动在感知和行为中的作用。虽然有几个小组已经开发了供内部使用的相关工具，但目前还没有适用于多种数据类型和格式、可用于大量数据、具有高质量数字以及专业记录和维护的软件系统。这样的软件系统将通过以下方式加强神经科学研究：(A)向缺乏资源在内部创建分析工具的群体提供获取先进分析工具的机会；(B)减少跨群体的重复工作；(C)允许更充分地利用生理数据集；以及(D)改善群体之间的结果交流。在过去的五年里，PI和同事们恰恰开发了这样一套工具。它们在全世界24个以上的实验室用于研究，在用于教学的海洋生物实验室的神经信息学课程中使用，并已出版了25多份出版物。根据所附约24封信所表明的许多请求，这笔赠款的目的是继续开发、维护和分发Chronux，这是一个用于高级神经生物学时间序列数据分析的开放源码软件包。具体目标是：1.进一步开发和维护数值分析库。最初的重点将是电生理数据，包括尖峰和连续信号(EEG/MEG/LFP)，但以后的版本将提供专门用于图像时间序列数据的例程。2.纳入用于多种神经生物学数据和元数据格式的I/O库，包括一套适用于若干现有格式的过滤器，以及此类过滤器的一般规格。3.开发图形用户界面，以方便典型的神经科学家使用。4.Chronux的文件、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.