Synapse Gizmos

PCA Spike Sorting

Single Unit Neurophys

Real-time filtering, spike detection, and principal component-based spike sorting with selectable algorithms.

When to use

This is the most common method for online spike sorting. Cluster units in PCA space and identify spikes automatically or manually cut.

Inputs and outputs

Input any multi-channel neural stream (raw amplifier stream). Output integer sort codes.

Tetrode Spike Sorting

Single Unit Neurophys

Real-time filtering, cross-channel tetrode spike detection and classification in a fully customizable 2D feature projection.

When to use

Use this gizmo for sorting spikes using tetrodes. Commonly used for cell isolation, tetrode sorting provides high spatial localization of nearby units.

Inputs and outputs

Input any multi-channel neural stream (raw amplifier stream), often from a mapper to organize tetrode channels. Output integer sort codes.

Box Spike Sorting

Single Unit Neurophys

Real-time filtering, spike detection, and discrimination of neural signals using time-voltage windows.

When to use

Use this gizmo to sort neuronal spikes on individual channels using time-voltage discrimination windows.

Inputs and outputs

Input any multi-channel neural stream (raw amplifier stream). Output integer sort codes.

Sort Binner

Single Unit Neurophys

Compress sort code output from spike sorting gizmos for fast viewing and further processing. Optionally output to RZ UDP interface for external processing.

When to use

Use this gizmo to count the number of sort codes that occur on specific channels within a user-specified time window.

Inputs and outputs

Input from sort code outputs of spike sorting gizmos. Output 32-bit integer words that are a count of sort codes per channel.

Neural Stream Processor

Synapse Base

Easily visualize, filter and store real-time multichannel neurophysiology signals. Includes built in, optimized settings for the most common biologic signal types.

When to use

Use this gizmo for easy filtering and storage of common signal types: LFP, EEG, EMG, Single-Unit, EKG.

Inputs and outputs

Input any neural stream (typically the raw signal). Outputs filtered signal, and also saves the filtered signal by default.

Neural Signal Referencer

Single Unit Neurophys

Digitally subtract common signals from multi-channel stream. Single or multi-channel referencing on all channels or independent sub-groups of channels.

When to use

Use this gizmo to eliminate common mode noise across channels or to perform digital re-referencing. Multi-channel referencing won't create artificial waveforms on your signal.

Inputs and outputs

Input any multi-channel neural stream (typically pre-filtered). Output multi-channel re-referenced signal, and save reference signal itself.

Fiber Photometry

Fiber Photometry

Real-time control and acquisition of demodulated lock-in amplification signal from any combination of up to 3 light drivers and 2 photosensors on a Lux bank. Can also monitor light power from PM1 from any Lux bank.

When to use

This is the primary gizmo used in fiber photometry setups with Lux hardware: RZ10x processors and iCon iX modules. Record up to 6 demodulated signals with raw photosensor output and ΔF/F calculations, too.

Inputs and outputs

Input from the RZ #enable line or other logic strobe signals. Output calculated Driver x Sensor signals or ΔF/F signals.

Fiber Photometry for non-Lux

Fiber Photometry

Real-time control and acquisition of demodulated lock-in amplification signal from any combination of up to 4 light drivers and 2 photosensors of your own. Converts the drive current you set (mA) into a voltage output for each driver and reads each photosensor's voltage as a response in mV.

When to use

Use this gizmo when you provide your own LED drivers and photosensors instead of Lux hardware (RZ10x or iX). Record up to 8 demodulated signals with raw photosensor output too. This was the original fiber photometry gizmo made for the RX8 and RZ5P (other processors such as the RZ5D and RZ2 can use it too); new setups use Lux hardware and the Fiber Photometry gizmo.

Inputs and outputs

Input from the RZ #Enable line or other logic strobe signals as master LED control. Output demodulated Driver x Sensor signals.

MRI Recording Processor

Synapse Base

Suppress MRI recording artifacts using controllable signal gate. Titrate gating tightly around artifact to clean up online signals.

When to use

Use this gizmo to eliminate gradient switching artifact in an MRI recording environment. Can automatically detect artifacts or be triggered using timing signal from the magnet.

Inputs and outputs

Input any multi-channel neural stream. Output multi-channel filtered and artifact-free single unit and LFP signals.

Pynapse (Python Coding)

Pynapse Coder

The Python Coding Gizmo ("Pynapse") tightly integrates Python coding into your Synapse experiment.

When to use

Use this to control your experiment flow, build and deliver stimuli, run complex behavioral paradigms, do custom analysis and visualization.

Inputs and outputs

Input up to 8 logic or number signals for logic testing, output logic or custom waveforms.

Parameter Sequencer

Synapse Base

Control stimulus parameters with complex timing and presentation sequences (rolling, repeated, random, manual).

When to use

High-level parameter control and stimulus presentation.

Inputs and outputs

Root or strobe input from another gizmo. Outputs Parameter value and strobing logic.

Audio Stimulation

Stimulation

Generate fully customizable tone, noise, and other audio stimulation types.

When to use

Use this gizmo for audio neurophysiology, stimulus-response protocols, hearing screening protocols, and psychoacoustics.

Inputs and outputs

Strobe inputs; parameter inputs from Parameter Sequencer. Output the audio signal and a stim sync logic signal.

Electrical Stim Driver

Stimulation

Create up to four stimulation voices for single-ended or bipolar stimulation outputs on a target device, such as an IZ2 or IZV. Create monophasic or biphasic waveforms with charge balancing options.

When to use

Use this gizmo for design of interesting electrical stimulation waveforms.

Inputs and outputs

Strobe inputs; parameter inputs from Parameter Sequencer. Output voices to target stimulation devices.

File Stimulation

Stimulation

Play custom waveforms from a list of files on disk, which includes WAV files and MAT files.

When to use

Use this for speech studies, psychoacoustics, or for custom audio or electrical stimulus presentations.

Inputs and outputs

Strobe inputs; parameter inputs from Parameter Sequencer. Output stimuli and a stim sync logic signal.

Ultrasonic Stimulation

Stimulation

A streamlined version of Audio Stimulation for creating stimuli at ultrasonic frequencies.

When to use

This gizmo is useful for audio neurophysiology and stimulus response protocols for animals that can hear in the ultrasonic frequency range.

Inputs and outputs

Strobe inputs; parameter inputs from Parameter Sequencer; Output the audio signal and a stim sync logic signal.

Ultrasonic File Stimulation

Stimulation

A streamlined version of File Stimulation for creating custom stimuli at ultrasonic frequencies.

When to use

This gizmo is useful for audio neurophysiology and stimulus response protocols for animals that can hear in the ultrasonic frequency range.

Inputs and outputs

Strobe inputs; parameter inputs from Parameter Sequencer; Output the audio signal and a stim sync logic signal.

Signal Accumulator

Synapse Base

Collect a sum of an incoming signal over a user-defined window. Optionally compute the average as well. Can also perform thresholding of accumulated signal for further processing.

When to use

Use this gizmo to calculate the total power of a signal over a specified time span, or to compute average signal power over many trials.

Inputs and outputs

Inputs any single or multi-channel data stream. Outputs the sum of the accumulated signal and optionally the average.

Signal Averager

Synapse Base New in v104

Stimulus-locked averaging. Cut a window of a signal around each trigger (usually from a stim gizmo), add it to a running average, and display and store the result. Optional automatic binning and artifact rejection.

When to use

Use this gizmo for auditory evoked potentials, other evoked potentials (VSEPs, SEPs, ERPs), electrically evoked responses, and peri-event averaging.

Inputs and outputs

Inputs the incoming data signal to be averaged, a strobe to trigger each average, and an optional bin number, typically from a Parameter Sequencer. No outputs; averages are displayed and stored.

State Maker

Synapse Base

State Maker is an interface for performing logical tests on single-channel inputs and combining results into output states for storage and controlling/triggering other gizmos for further signal processing.

When to use

Use this gizmo when receiving bit codes from external devices, and to make decisions/process gizmo output values. Used often to trigger store events or strobing other gizmos.

Inputs and outputs

Digital I/O inputs from RZ gizmo, or inputs from other gizmos, such as integer values from a Selector reading sort codes. Output variable duration logic triggers based on a combination of keys and marks.

Timer

Synapse Base

Measures time between or duration of logical events from primary and secondary inputs.

When to use

Use this gizmo to calculate event frequency or time logical events. Can be used to measure response time to stimuli, calculate heart rate, and time other physiologic intervals.

Inputs and outputs

Inputs any logic signals. Outputs smoothed or instantaneous measurements of period or frequency.

Pulse Generator

Synapse Base

Creates user-defined pulse trains based on milliseconds or Hz. Control duty cycle, period, number of pulses, and trigger pulse trains internally or from other gizmos.

When to use

Use this gizmo for directly controlling optogenetic stimulation or driving the timing of other connected gizmos or devices.

Inputs and outputs

Inputs logic strobe signal for other gizmos or digital I/O. Output TTL or floating-point pulses to be routed to other gizmos or I/O.

User Input

Synapse Base

Create dynamic stores and logic outputs based on inputs from digital I/O bits or a software button.

When to use

Use this gizmo to store I/O inputs with values defined by user or another gizmo and create fixed-duration, toggled, or edge logic outputs.

Inputs and outputs

Input from digital I/O bits or software button. Output logic as an edge, fixed-duration TTL pulse, or toggled output. Output can be a counter, a user-set value, or gizmo input.

Pulse Train Generator

Synapse Base

Create simple or complex user-defined pulse train waveforms based on a number of configuration options that include stacked or parallel trains. Control whether trains are strobed or triggered, and define waveform characteristics with a parameter table.

When to use

Use this gizmo for directly controlling optogenetic stimulation or other connected gizmos or devices. Pulse Train is especially useful when you want to create complex pulse trains where one signal is gating another, or if you want to inform waveform parameters dynamically from other gizmos.

Inputs and outputs

Input from logic strobe signals, parameter values, or scalar inputs. Output a TTL or floating point train signal to drive connected gizmos or devices.

Unary Signal Processor

Synapse Base

Implement series of mathematical operations to incoming signals.

When to use

Use this gizmo to perform interesting signal processing on incoming data, such as power in band, RMS, or scaling. Can also perform complex thresholding or type conversion on signals.

Inputs and outputs

Input any single or multi-channel data stream. Outputs the processed data stream or a converted signal type.

General Purpose Filter

Synapse Base

Create filters with user-defined parameters that include high/low pass corners up to 8th order and notches with varying cut depths and bandwidths.

When to use

Use this gizmo to design a filter with higher orders or more notches than the Neural Stream Processor can provide.

Inputs and outputs

Input any single or multi-channel data stream. Outputs the filtered data stream.

Artifact Blocker

Synapse Base

Suppress artifacts associated with triggered events. Includes gate timing parameters for control of gate shape.

When to use

Use this gizmo to remove large artifacts during events like electrical stimulation or motion artifact.

Inputs and outputs

Any single or multi-channel data stream. Outputs the same signal, but with the data removed around the artifact event.

Mapper

Synapse Base

Create user-defined channel maps to reroute electrode sites to different amplifier channels.

When to use

Use this when you want to create ordered spatial maps with unordered electrode sites.

Inputs and outputs

Input any multi-channel stream, typically right from the amplifier. Output a reordered multi-channel stream.

Selector

Synapse Base

Pick off individual channels from a multi-channel stream, or isolate specific channel and sort code combinations from Sort Binner.

When to use

Use this gizmo for routing individual channels for monitoring or further processing, or for reading Sort Binner outputs of single channel + sort code information.

Inputs and outputs

Input any multi-channel signal or Sort Binner. Output the isolated channel for further processing or the Sort Binner count of sort code occurrences on the specified channel.

Merger

Synapse Base

Combine up to eight single or multi-channel streams into a single multi-channel stream.

When to use

Use this gizmo to send separate data into a single multi-channel stream for processing in other gizmos or storage.

Inputs and outputs

Two or more single or multi-channel data streams. Must be of the same single or multi-channel type. Output the merged data streams.

Injector

Synapse Base

Insert a single channel input into a multi-channel data stream at specific user-specified channels.

When to use

Choose a channel for electrical stimulation. Can also be used to route audio signal to a speaker array (channel in DAC Montage).

Inputs and outputs

Input a single channel input such as eStim or aStim. Output into a multi-channel signal with channel routing information.

Delay

Synapse Base

Adds a fixed or dynamic delay to any input signal.

When to use

This gizmo is useful for triggering optogenetic, auditory, or other stimuli a programmed time after an event of interest occurs.

Inputs and outputs

Input from any signal. Output the same signal at a specified time later.

Parameter Manifold

Synapse Base

Control multiple stimulation gizmo parameters simultaneously.

When to use

Use this gizmo when needing to share parameters between multiple stimulation gizmos, such as duration or pulse count. Often used in conjunction with Parameter Sequencer.

Inputs and outputs

Strobe signal input from other gizmos. Output shared parameter values to multiple gizmos.

Stream Data Storage

Synapse Base

A general-purpose gizmo used to store single or multi-channel data streams. Includes data formatting and scaling options.

When to use

Use this gizmo to store raw data directly from your amplifier. Use on the output of other gizmos that do not have storage options, like Unary Processor.

Inputs and outputs

Input any single or multi-channel data stream. No outputs.

Strobed Data Storage

Synapse Base

Store single values or short segments of data (including pre-trigger data). Includes heat maps and bar plots.

When to use

Use this gizmo to store streaming data asynchronously or store values/segments of data around events of interest.

Inputs and outputs

Input any single or multi-channel data stream and a strobe input. No outputs.

Epoch Event Storage

Synapse Base

Timestamp and store single or multi-channel data when triggered.

When to use

Use this gizmo to capture behavioral inputs or stimulus parameters to filter and align neurophysiological data.

Inputs and outputs

Input any data input and a strobe input. No outputs.

Oscilloscope

Synapse Base

Has all the functionality of a hardware oscilloscope and more. View up to four channels at user-defined ranges and domains, and perform complex signal testing for creating trigger outputs.

When to use

Use this gizmo to visualize signals on a more refined time scale, or to perform thresholding or hysteresis tests for complex triggering paradigms like phase-locked stimulation off LFPs.

Inputs and outputs

Input any single-channel signal. Outputs logical triggers and delayed signal.

User Gizmo

Synapse Base

Use the RPvdsEx coding environment to make a custom gizmo with any component in the RPvdsEx library.

When to use

When you can't find a standard gizmo to do what you want.

Inputs and outputs

Any single or multi-channel data stream.