neurotic: Neuroscience Tool for Interactive Characterization

• Authors: Jeffrey P. Gill, Case Western Reserve University; Samuel Garcia, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon; Lena Ting, Emory University; Mengnan Wu, Emory University; Hillel J. Chiel, Case Western Reserve University
• Journal Title: eNeuro
• Volume: Volume 7, Number 3
• Publisher: Society for Neuroscience | 2020-05-01
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0085-20.2020
• Subjects: Biology, Neuroscience; Engineering, Biomedical; Biology, Bioinformatics
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Neurosciences; Neurosciences & Neurology; behavioral neuroscience; data sharing; open source; Python; video synchronization; visualization; Motor neuronal activity; Retractor muscle

Abstract

A software tool for synchronization of video with signals would be of broad general use to behavioral neuro-scientists. A new program, called neurotic (NEUROscience Tool for Interactive Characterization), allows users to review and annotate signal data synchronized with video, performs simple initial analyses including signal filtering and spike detection, is easy to use, and supports a variety of file formats. The program also facilitates collaborations by using a portable specification for loading and processing data and retrieving data files from online sources. Two examples are shown in which the software is used to explore experimental datasets with extracellular nerve or muscle recordings and simultaneous video of behavior. The configuration specification for controlling how data are located, loaded, processed, and plotted is also summarized. Algorithms for spike detection and burst detection are demonstrated. This new program could be used in many applications in which behavior and signals need to be analyzed together.