Resources
Software and experimental tools
Open tools and reliable instrumentation are central to reproducible systems neuroscience. This page collects software and experimental platforms used in, or closely connected to, Robinson Lab workflows. We will expand it with lab-specific protocols, tutorials, and datasets as they become available.
Software
NeuroScope
A desktop viewer for neurophysiological and behavioral recordings. NeuroScope can display LFP traces, spikes, behavioral events, and tracked position together, making it useful for rapid inspection of experiments and data alignment.
CellExplorer
A MATLAB-based framework that combines a standardized cell data structure, processing modules, and an interactive interface for exploring and classifying extracellularly recorded neurons.
Neurocode
The AyA Lab’s MATLAB codebase for neural and behavioral data analysis, with workflows spanning preprocessing, LFPs, spikes, sharp-wave ripples, reactivation, behavior, visualization, and statistics.
neuro_py
An open-source Python package for freely moving electrophysiology analysis, including behavioral tracking, event detection, neural assemblies, peri-event analyses, spectral methods, I/O, and robust batch workflows.
Kilosort
GPU-accelerated spike sorting for high-channel-count extracellular recordings. The current Kilosort 4 workflow performs template-based sorting and exports results for downstream review in Phy.
DeepLabCut
An open-source deep-learning toolbox for markerless pose estimation. It supports user-defined features across animal species and provides single- and multi-animal workflows for turning behavioral video into quantitative trajectories.
Phy
An open-source Python interface for visualizing and manually curating large-scale electrophysiology datasets, including outputs from Kilosort.
Experimental tools
Silicon probes
High-density silicon probes enable simultaneous measurement of single-unit activity and local field potentials across multiple sites in behaving rodents. Probe geometry and channel layout can be matched to the brain regions and circuit questions in each experiment.
Flexible silicon probes
Flexible interconnects and probe configurations can make routing more adaptable for chronic and freely moving preparations. Robinson Lab hardware, implantation, and validation details will be added as this platform is finalized.
Lab-specific details forthcoming.
Axon patch-clamp system
For acute brain-slice electrophysiology, the Axon platform brings together amplification, digitization, pCLAMP acquisition, and analysis tools for whole-cell and related recordings. We use this system to measure intrinsic and synaptic properties in identified neurons.
Scientifica patch-rig integration
Scientifica components are used to retrofit the slice patch-clamp rigs around existing upright microscopes, adding stable micromanipulation, motorized positioning, and adaptable mounting for targeted recordings.