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Multiple neural spike train data analysis: state-of-the-art and future challenges

Nature Neuroscience volume 7, pages 456–461 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Multiple electrodes are now a standard tool in neuroscience research that make it possible to study the simultaneous activity of several neurons in a given brain region or across different regions. The data from multi-electrode studies present important analysis challenges that must be resolved for optimal use of these neurophysiological measurements to answer questions about how the brain works. Here we review statistical methods for the analysis of multiple neural spike-train data and discuss future challenges for methodology research.

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Figure 1: Transition from voltage signal recordings to measures of association for three neural spike trains.
Figure 2: Decoding of position from ensemble rat neural spiking activity40,50.

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Acknowledgements

Support for this work was provided in part by NIH grants MH66410 to P.M. and E.N.B., MH62528 to P.M., MH64537 to R.E.K., and MH59733, MH61637 and DA015664 to E.N.B. We thank S. Grün for comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript, G. Gerstein for permission to use Fig. 1d and R. Barbieri for help preparing the figures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, and the Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Neuroscience Statistics Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, 02114, Massachusetts, USA

    Emery N Brown

  2. Department of Statistics, Carnegie Mellon University and the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Pittsburgh, 15208, Pennsylvania, USA

    Robert E Kass

  3. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, 11724, New York, USA

    Partha P Mitra

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Correspondence to Emery N Brown.

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Brown, E., Kass, R. & Mitra, P. Multiple neural spike train data analysis: state-of-the-art and future challenges. Nat Neurosci 7, 456–461 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1228

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