Data Analysis Techniques for Human Microwire Recordings: Spike Detection and Sorting, Decoding, Relation between Neurons and Local Field Potentials

Abstract

This chapter provides a technical perspective on the procedures for an experiment to proceed from the acquisition of continuously sampled data from microwires all the way to points of time a putative single neuron fired a spike, to local field potential recordings and to decoding neurophysiological signals in single trials and in real time. We review the technical challenges that arise and the range of approaches that have proven to be useful for addressing them. Particular emphasis is placed on practical issues that play a crucial role in producing reliable and reproducible data. Methods reviewed include spike detection, spike sorting, spike field coherence, phase locking, local field potentials, decoding, and real-time experiments.