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Synapse

Synapse provides an integrated approach for your neuroscience research. Design experiments for data collection, processing, and stimulus presentation – all in one software.

Synapse offers streamlined tools for neural recordings, such as filters, spike sorting, and detection of evoked responses – in addition to calcium imaging and behavioral control. Synapse also has signal presentation for optogenetics, auditory, and electrical stimulation. This includes timers and triggers that can be implemented for real-time closed-loop control.

Research Uses

Resources

Synapse Manual

Synapse Training Videos

Related Systems

Fiber Photometry

Optogenetics + Behavioral Neuroscience

Ephys & fMRI

Electrical Stimulation

Auditory Stimulation

Auditory Evoked Potentials

32 Channel Ephys

Synapse Base & Software Packages

Synapse Base provides the basic tools for designing, processing, and collecting your neural data. Further expand Synapse’s functionality with tailored software packages that include:

  • Single-Unit Neurophysiology with real-time spike sorting and signal processing
  • Fiber Photometry
  • Electrical and Auditory Stimulation
  • Behavior Control

Synapse Base has all the tools (aka “Gizmos”) necessary for signal acquisition and processing of neural recordings. Gizmos are mini-apps that control a variety of functions and are the programming component of Synapse. These Gizmos can be combined to run closed-loop paradigms in Synapse Base.

Use Synapse Base for real-time acquisition and analysis of waveforms and the ability to acquire and send signals to external devices, e.g. external triggers for optogenetic stimulation. This includes prominent Gizmos for:Synapse makes it easy | Synapse MRI Gizmo

  • Acquiring, filtering, and storing signals
  • Real-time signal processing for calculating power in band and displaying a digital oscilloscope.
  • Controlling and triggering external devices, such as Optogenetic stimulators.

For more info on all of the Gizmos included with Synapse Base, click here.

Closed-loop control

 

The Synapse software is a seamless tool for acquiring incoming neural signals and event information from video trackers and external behavioral devices. In turn, Synapse can trigger an external stimulator with <1 ms precision.

 

Using digital events from external devices

Synapse elegantly acquires all digital events with <50 us precision.

Incoming events from operant chambers and video trackers are easily binned and processed for controlling TDT’s electrical stimulators and third party optogenetic light sources.

 

Processing LFP, EEG and EMG signals

Process complex neural signals with Synapse and the RZ Processor. For example, the Unary Processor Gizmo can:

  • Calculate the energy in a fixed bandwidth, such as Theta and Gamma power bands
  • Measure the force of a muscle contraction
  • And more!

These signals can then be thresholded to trigger an event, such as an external stimulator.

 

Signal acquisition and processing

 

Synapse provides an easy-to-use interface for all signals, including analog and digital inputs, as well as any peripherals, such as preamplifiers, video trackers and data storage devices.

The user has complete control over all aspects of signal acquisition, processing, and visualization.

Fiber Photometry

An all-in-one Gizmo tackles setup of LED drivers and measuring power for fiber photometry, while also calculating ΔF/F and lock-in amplification in real-time.

Digital events, such as behavioral codes from third party devices, are processed alongside the neural signals. The digital signals are saved for offline analysis and can be used online for acquiring evoked responses or for closed-loop control.

 

Single Unit Neurophysiology

Record single units and perform real-time, multi-channel spike sorting with automated thresholding. Online sorting Gizmos are available for PCA-based, box, and tetrode clustering algorithms.

Trigger from neural firing rates with sub-millisecond access to all real-time neural activity. Use the Sort Binner Gizmo to trigger stimulators based on the firing of a single neuron (or all units) in a fixed time window (≥ 20 ms).

 

Synapse - Single Units and LFP ephys

Behavioral Control

Pynapse has built-in features that simplify the configuration of behavioral paradigms and give users complete experimental control. Quickly design a simple task (e.g. self-administration of a reward) or a complex task (e.g. two-alternative force choice experiment) using the integrated Python coding.

Pynapse displays all behavioral events, lever presses, rewards, and other experimental metrics in real-time to allow for rapid and efficient changes to task requirements in response to the subject’s skill set.

All this and more – perfectly integrated into your electrophysiology and/or fiber photometry project!

Pynapse Trial Metrics screenshot

Ephys & fMRI

Large artifacts are recorded in electrophysiology during fMRI imaging, and Synapse can remove the artifact for real-time spike sorting and LFP visualization.

 

Stimulus presentation

 

The RZ real-time processor has an integrated tool set for stimulus generation. Individual Gizmos are available for each of these functions and can control parameters such as timing, interval, and shape of the stimulus waveform (these parameters can also be adjusted in real-time).

SynapseAPI can also be used with MATLAB, Python, or other languages to control Synapse and implement various stimulation paradigms remotely.

Save and Track your Experiments

Synapse has sophisticated tools for managing experiments, subjects, and data. Synapse has version control for experiments, a digital notebook for subject settings, and a database to review and access your recordings.

Version Control

Made a mistake? You can easily return to your previous experiment setup. Synapse’s version control logs all experiment changes and saves these versions to a database for easy retrieval. Navigate the database to access your preferred experiment protocol or review previous changes.

Digital Notebook

Synapse has a digital notebook to track subject settings and to timestamp any changes made during a recording. For example, previous spike thresholds and sort codes are automatically loaded for the subject’s next recording session. Also, filter settings, stimulation paradigms, and LED power for fiber photometry or optogenetics can be pre-set and saved for use in the next recording session.

Data Management

Review parameter changes during recording sessions with Synapse’s history function. Also use the history function to quickly access TDT’s offline analysis tools, such as Scope or Explorer, or simply copy and paste the file pathway to import your data into MATLAB or Python. Use the searchable database to access recording sessions based on experimental protocol and subject.