Journal Article

Improving data quality in neuronal population recordings

Freeman, Jeremy, Smith, Spencer L, Harris, Kenneth D, Quiroga, Rodrigo Quian

2016

Overview

Extracellular electrophysiology and calcium imaging are powerful methods for recording neuronal populations. Yet both methods are subject to confounds that, if not accounted for, could lead to erroneous scientific conclusions. The authors discuss these confounds, strategies for identifying and ameliorating them, and potential research that could accurately calibrate population recording. Understanding how the brain operates requires understanding how large sets of neurons function together. Modern recording technology makes it possible to simultaneously record the activity of hundreds of neurons, and technological developments will soon allow recording of thousands or tens of thousands. As with all experimental techniques, these methods are subject to confounds that complicate the interpretation of such recordings, and could lead to erroneous scientific conclusions. Here we discuss methods for assessing and improving the quality of data from these techniques and outline likely future directions in this field.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group US,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 631/1647/1453 / 631/1647/245/2226 / Action Potentials - physiology / Analysis / Animal Genetics and Genomics / Animals / Behavioral Sciences / Biological Techniques / Biomedicine / Brain - cytology / Brain - physiology / Data Accuracy / Data processing / Electrophysiological Phenomena - physiology / Humans / Microelectrodes / Nerve Net - cytology / Nerve Net - physiology / Neurobiology / Neurons / Neurons - physiology / Neurosciences / Optical Imaging - methods / Optical Imaging - standards / Physiological aspects / Quality control / review-article