Electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) are techniques used in a wide range of animal research disciplines to investigate brain function, muscle activity, and their involvement in health and disease. Researchers might use EEG to study brain waves and patterns of electrical activity in animals to better understand sleep states, arousal, … Read More
Principal Component Analysis for Unit Sorting: What It Tells Us and What It Does Not
Principal component, or PC, is a term that people encounter when sorting units in Offline Sorter. It is a common visualization to graph the first two principal components as the X and Y axes in a feature-based cluster graph. It is called feature space instead of component space because other … Read More
Introduction to Large Scale Neural Recording with SiNAPS and OmniPlex HD
Recent developments in neural interface technologies are leading a path to ever more detailed exploration of neural functions. Miniaturization and increases in electrode resolution and density are the major factors supporting the growth of brain research. Despite improvements in optical imaging and other modalities, recordings of neural electrophysiology give the … Read More
Finding the Perfect Fit: A Guide to Choosing the Right Research Lab
Choosing the right research lab to join can be a daunting task for any graduate student or postdoc. Your decision can have a significant impact on your research career and even your personal life. Joining a research lab is a long-term commitment, and it is essential to find a lab … Read More
Spike Sorting Basics: How Do I Know I Have a Good Unit?
We get this question a lot at Plexon, both from brand-new labs and labs that have been recording for years. However, when spike sorting, a “good” unit is very subjective and depends on several things: the recording region, what electrodes are used, how secure the animal ground is (see ground … Read More
Don’t be a Hoarder: Only Save What you Need
A common question we receive at Plexon is about processing large data files in Offline Sorter. The details of these discussions are important. “Large” can mean a file a few GB in size or hundreds of GB in size (no joke). “Processing” can mean anything from opening and exporting a … Read More
9 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health
Social distancing, self-isolation, and lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in fewer face-to-face interactions with others, and there is evidence that this has negatively affected mental health.1 On top of dealing with the “new normal”, post-docs have the added stress of job security, working long hours and receiving low pay … Read More
Upset About Teaching in Graduate School
Forced to Teach while in Graduate school? Take advantage of the System Teaching takes away from research, but here are some ways to get the most out of your assistantship. I was naïve when I started graduate school. No one in my family had gone to college much less graduate … Read More
Open-Source Fiber Photometry Data Analysis Packages: pMAT vs. GuPPY
Overall conclusion: pMAT is more user friendly, but GuPPY has more options and flexibility Summary Comparison Table One of the major hurdles for a lab performing fiber photometry is data analysis. Using and applying an isosbestic control requires a complex set of mathematics and understanding how to do this … Read More
Can I Start a Family and Still Get Tenure?
Being a researcher demands a lot from a person. One neuroscientist revealed in a Nature article how she works countless hours a day. As a result, her work and mental health suffered from burnout. Over time, however, she eventually learned how to work around her schedule, so that she always has time … Read More