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Wavesurfer janelia2/1/2024 ![]() This configuration can range from rudimentary (e.g. Therefore, the software must enable users to configure the digitiser and ideally read information from the amplifier (e.g. Along the same lines, the software needs to be able to output voltages via the digitiser, to allow control of the amplifier. The most obvious feature that any electrophysiology software needs to have is the ability to acquire data from the amplifier via a digitiser. There is the ‘must have’ functionality, that even the most minimalist software should have, there are capabilities that are ‘nice to have’ and there are additional features that are not necessary but can make life easier. We realise this list is not complete, but hope readers will find it a useful starting point for their own exploration.īefore we introduce the different options, we present a quick discussion of features that are common to electrophysiology programs and points to consider when choosing a software package.Įlectrophysiology software can have a wide range of features. In this article, we introduce several free electrophysiology solutions that we believe meet these criteria. And finally, the development life of the programs tends to be determined by the academic life of the programmer, leading to many solutions that have not been updated in a decade.ĭespite the bleak impression that the potential risks might inspire, sifting through the many options available, it is possible to find software packages that have sufficient support from the universities or funding agencies to offer reliability, documentation and in some rare cases even support. Indeed, quite a few solutions do not even have full documentation. Also, most of these programs do not come with technical support. The main risks of this type of freeware stem from the fact that they are researcher written: often the functionality is limited to that needed by the authors. Many programs support multiple digitiser families, including ‘outdated’ versions, which can be given a new lease to life by using such software. Most of these programs are written and maintained by neuroscientists, in some cases with strong departmental and funding agency support. Again, the price reflects the simplicity of using an integrated solution, but also the technical support these manufacturers tend to offer.Īs an alternative to the commercially available software, there is a wide selection of free alternatives available. pClamp, Spike2, AxoGraph, PatchMaster) can be expensive, and are in most cases tied to the manufacturer’s own digitiser range often only supporting recent digitiser models. The commercially available software packages for electrophysiology (e.g. This is where the third component in an electrophysiological measurement system becomes important: control and measurement software. Much of this equipment is fully functional, but not supported by the manufacturer’s newest electrophysiology software version anymore. Many university departments have storage spaces full of ‘outdated’ equipment. Another alternative that is often successful is looking through old departmental stock. The advantage of the general-purpose digitisers is that the user can choose a model that fits their experimental needs without paying for functionality they do not need. Often these tend to be more expensive than general-purpose digitisers such as those provided by, for example, National Instruments. Molecular Device’s Digidata series), in some cases as a single unit with the amplifier (e.g. There are dedicated electrophysiology digitisers available (e.g. Most of these simpler amplifiers are not computer controlled, which makes them software independent.ĭigitisers have a wide range of prices. ![]() with low noise, fast voltage-clamp) amplifiers. But with a bit of effort, it is possible to find lower or zero cost alternatives.Īmplifiers for electrophysiology are available from a wide range of manufacturers, many providing simple but good (e.g. While the simplicity of these integrated systems justifies the price, not all researchers have that level of funds available. Often, amplifiers, digitisers and software are tied into bundles, which are often perceived as expensive. ![]() Looking through the websites of many suppliers that might not be the first impression a researcher has. One important aspect of electrophysiology is that it has become possible to set up a rig, or indeed an entire lab, on a very limited budget. But even when not combined with any optical methods, electrophysiology is an extremely powerful toolset. Indeed, most imaging and optogenetics experiments rely on electrophysiology, either throughout the experiment or during characterisation and as control. The recent excitement over quickly developing imaging methods and optogenetics often hides the fact that electrophysiology is still the workhorse of neuroscience.
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