Following Protocol - Plexon Blog

We strive to have information relevant to scientists, not just Plexon users, & not just about Plexon equipment.

Latest Blog

Amping Up Illumination: Maximizing LED Performance

By Kristin Dartt / June 10, 2025

There are several advantages to using LEDs versus lasers for optogenetics. LEDs are safer, come in more wavelengths, and are much less expensive than lasers. However, this all comes with the tradeoff that LEDs are less powerful. That is, they produce fewer milliwatts (mWs) of light compared to lasers. Therefore, when using LEDs, it is necessary to optimize the light path to ensure that the required amount of power reaches the brain region of interest to activate the opsin.

Latest Blog

Amping Up Illumination: Maximizing LED Performance

Kristin Dartt / June 10, 2025

By Alyssa Wright-Brown/ January 7 2025

Should AI Be Used in Publications?

As artificial intelligence (AI) advances, its potential to aid in various stages of scientific publishing has sparked interest and debate within...

By Nafi Yasar / May 20, 2024

Electrode Impedance: What it is, and How it Affects the Quality of Electrophysiological Signals and Electrical Stimulation – An Explanation for Non-Engineers

Electrodes, as the name implies, are electrical devices, even if passive ones, and therefore their performance is affected in several...

By Andrew Klein / April 4, 2024

Beyond the Spikes: Electroencephalography (EEG) and Electromyography (EMG) in Animal Research

Electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) are techniques used in a wide range of animal research disciplines...

By Kristin Dartt / January 29, 2024

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...

By Harvey Wiggins / August 7, 2023

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...

By Alyssa Wright-Brown / August 2, 2023

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...

By Kristin Dartt / June 1, 2023

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. ...

By Andrew Klein / April 3, 2023

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...

By Alyssa Wright-Brown / December 7, 2022

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...

By Nioka Burns / August 15, 2022

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...

By Kristin Dartt / June 21, 2022

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...

By Penny Kalvin / June 16, 2022

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...

By plexon / June 2, 2022

Why are Neuroscientists transitioning from Academia to Industry? Perspectives from Plexon PhDs

There has been a lot of discussions on Twitter and other platforms about graduate students and post-docs transitioning from academia...

By Andrew Klein / March 14, 2022

Grounding and Referencing for Electrophysiology Recording Systems

It has been said, an informed consumer is the best customer. At Plexon Inc, our goal is for users to...

By Nafi Yasar / February 7, 2022

Optogenetic Stimulation: Choosing the Right Equipment

Are you thinking about adding optogenetics to your lab? There is no shortage of articles discussing light sources and fiber...

By Pascal Fries / August 9, 2021

Linear Probe Discussion with Prof. Dr. Pascal Fries

My question is for beginners, which probe would you recommend for...

By Nafi Yasar / June 28, 2021

Causes of Noise in Electrophysiological Recordings

A poor ground or reference connection will cause large amplitude noise, which will completely drown out the electrophysiological signal....

By Kristin Dartt / April 14, 2021

What is an Isosbestic Control and Why Do You Need it In Fiber Photometry?

Data from fluorescent calcium indicators is always reported as a ratio: ΔF/F. This is the same from dyes like Fura-2...

By Justin Brown / January 22, 2021

Top 5 Tips for Grant Writing

Grant writing can be a long and stressful process, so we’ve gathered some grant writing tips to help you get...

By Justin Brown / November 25, 2020

4 Ways to Show Appreciation in the Workplace

Thanksgiving in America is coming up this week, a perfect time to start thinking about showing appreciation and thanks to...

By Justin Brown / October 27, 2020

What to do with no SfN in 2020?

As we start to get into the winter season, or as I write from Texas, the mildly less hot season,...

By Holly Hunsberger / August 11, 2020

Are preprints important?

A preprint is when you make a research article, or part of a research article, available for free either on...

By Lisa Wentzel / June 4, 2020

Conferences Moving Online: How Will This Change the Future?

In late February, the Biogen Leadership Conference was held in Boston. Within two weeks it was determined to be the...

By Sam Debes / May 20, 2020

The Lab Notebook

You wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night. You’ve had a strange dream about the...

By Joanna Komorowska-Müller / May 20, 2020

How to Tackle the Problem of Toxic Labs and Abusive PIs?

Over the course of my studies, I came across a significant amount of people that were working in unhealthy environments...

By Nioka Burns / March 25, 2020

Yoda’s Wise Words on Fear – Turn Concern into Altruistic Action

I am not someone that watches many hours of TV, but this weekend, COVID-19, rain, and a 1-year-old limited what...

By Justin Brown / March 23, 2020

Transitioning from Academia to Industry

There are a lot of reasons why someone might want to get out of academia and start looking to get...

By Alyssa Wright-Brown / January 7, 2025