@article {460, title = {Neural ensemble communities: open-source approaches to hardware for large-scale electrophysiology}, journal = {Current Opinion in Neurobiology}, volume = {32}, year = {2015}, month = {01/2015}, pages = {53 - 59}, abstract = {

One often-overlooked factor when selecting a platform for largescale electrophysiology is whether or not a particular data acquisition system is {\textquoteleft}open{\textquoteright} or {\textquoteleft}closed{\textquoteright}: that is, whether or not the system{\textquoteright}s schematics and source code are available to end users. Open systems have a reputation for being difficult to acquire, poorly documented, and hard to maintain. With the arrival of more powerful and compact integrated circuits, rapid prototyping services, and web-based tools for collaborative development, these stereotypes must be reconsidered. We discuss some of the reasons why multichannel extracellular electrophysiology could benefit from open-source approaches and describe examples of successful community-driven tool development within this field. In order to promote the adoption of open-source hardware and to reduce the need for redundant development efforts, we advocate a move toward standardized interfaces that connect each element of the data processing pipeline. This will give researchers the flexibility to modify their tools when necessary, while allowing them to continue to benefit from the high-quality products and expertise provided by commercial vendors.

Available online 17 December 2014

In Print:\  June 2015

}, issn = {09594388}, doi = {10.1016/j.conb.2014.11.004}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959438814002268}, author = {Siegle, Joshua H and Gregory J Hale and Jonathan P Newman and Voigts, Jakob} } @article {1831, title = {Optogenetic feedback control of neural activity.}, journal = {Elife}, volume = {4}, year = {2015}, month = {2015}, pages = {e07192}, abstract = {

Optogenetic techniques enable precise excitation and inhibition of firing in specified neuronal populations and artifact-free recording of firing activity. Several studies have suggested that optical stimulation provides the precision and dynamic range requisite for closed-loop neuronal control, but no approach yet permits feedback control of neuronal firing. Here we present the {\textquoteright}optoclamp{\textquoteright}, a feedback control technology that provides continuous, real-time adjustments of bidirectional optical stimulation in order to lock spiking activity at specified targets over timescales ranging from seconds to days. We demonstrate how this system can be used to decouple neuronal firing levels from ongoing changes in network excitability due to multi-hour periods of glutamatergic or GABAergic neurotransmission blockade in vitro as well as impinging vibrissal sensory drive in vivo. This technology enables continuous, precise optical control of firing in neuronal populations in order to disentangle causally related variables of circuit activation in a physiologically and ethologically relevant manner.

}, keywords = {Action Potentials, Cytological Techniques, Feedback, Humans, Neurons, Optogenetics}, issn = {2050-084X}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.07192}, author = {Jonathan P Newman and Fong, Ming-fai and Millard, Daniel C and Whitmire, Clarissa J and Stanley, Garrett B and Potter, Steve M} }