Computer Assisted Neurophysiology by a Distributed Java Program

We have developed a distributed software package which allows neurophysiologists to have at hand a set of network and graphic tools in order to perform the analysis of data collected from the electrical activity of neurons, studied in the experimental laboratory. This system is built around three major components. First, the experimental data are processed in order to select specific data files from the networked computer and display the spike trains as raster dots. The second part selects one type of analysis (e.g., cross-correlation, out of a set of possible choices) after configuration of some specific parameters. Finally, the third component deals with the results of data analyses, which are selected and displayed on a multi-parameter graphic “ring binder.” We have used the Java programming language to implement this application. This recent object-oriented language offers platform-independent software tools including graphic package and standard network protocols.