Ultimately, what drew me to TDT was the ability to bring multiple experimental approaches together within a single, flexible platform.
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- Give us a little background about your lab and the work you do.
Our laboratory at Creighton University investigates the neural circuits underlying auditory perception and cognition, with a particular interest in how hearing loss alters these processes. We combine neuroanatomical, neurophysiological, and operant behavioral approaches to address these questions.
- What TDT systems have you worked with and what system do you have now?
I had previously worked with TDT equipment, but often in combination with custom hardware and software. When establishing my own laboratory, I wanted a more streamlined and integrated approach that would allow us to combine behavioral testing with neural recordings and circuit manipulations. I was excited to see TDT’s development of their modular, all-in-one systems, which offered exactly the flexibility and integration I was looking for.
Our laboratory is now equipped with iConQZ behavioral control systems, iD2 128-channel digital recording systems with a commutator, iV2 video recording and tracking, iX7 fiber photometry, and iX6 optogenetic stimulation. One of the biggest advantages of this setup is how modular it is. We can easily incorporate or remove components depending on the experimental design, allow us to move between behavioral, physiological, and circuit-level approaches without having to build entirely separate systems. The Pynapse-based software has also been a major advantage, providing the flexibility to develop and modify behavioral experiments as our questions evolve.
- Have you realized any specific benefits from working with TDT equipment so far?
Another major advantage of working with TDT has been the exceptional customer service and technical support. We have been able to get our systems up and running relatively quickly, and Myles Billard has been instrumental with this process. From navigating equipment purchases and configuring our systems to developing new experiments and troubleshooting unexpected issues, he has been an invaluable resource. He is always responsive and willing to jump on a Zoom call to work through problems with us. His support has even extended beyond TDT equipment, including helping us test the quality of our silicon multielectrode probes. Having that level of support has made a huge difference as we’ve established our laboratory and launched the experiments that are critical to our research.
- What drew you to TDT?
Ultimately, what drew me to TDT was the ability to bring multiple experimental approaches together within a single, flexible platform. As our research expands to test neural circuit function during increasingly complex auditory behaviors, this integration will be especially valuable. Equally important is knowing that we have such a knowledgeable and responsive team supporting us at TDT. This gives us great confidence to continue developing new approaches and pushing our experiments in new directions.