On-line acquisition, analysis and presentation of neurophysiological data based on a personal microcomputer system.

A microcomputer based system is described for the acquisition, averaging, displaying, analysis and storage of electrophysiological (EPSP and post-stimulus histogram) data. The system consists of commercially available hardware (IBM-PC AT compatible, 80286 or 80386 based microcomputer, Burr-Brown analog-to-digital (A/D) converter), a custom built interface module, and a combination of commercially available and custom built software packages. The software operates within a Microsoft Windows environment and is comprised of custom built data acquisition and review modules which are linked to Microsoft's Excel program. The system is capable of four channel A/D conversion of EPSP's at a sampling frequency of up to 10 KHz (50 KHz single channel), the averaging of data including the addition and subtraction of various channels, the graphical display of data, the extraction of various data parameters, and the transfer of data to an Excel spreadsheet. The spreadsheet allows for the development of mathematical formulas for statistical analysis of data and presentation of the results in graphical form. Finally, data can easily be output to a laser printer or plotter. A sample experiment, illustrating system operation, is presented.