Robust and memory-less median estimation for real-time spike detection.

We propose a novel 1-D median estimator specifically designed for the online detection of threshold-crossing signals, such as spikes in extracellular neural recordings. Compared to state-of-the-art algorithms, our method reduces estimator variance by up to eight times for a given buffer length. Likewise, for a given estimator variance, it requires a buffer length that is up to eight times smaller.

A spherical treadmill system to train head-fixed adult rats.

Background: While spherical treadmills are widely used in mouse models, there are only a few experimental setups suitable for adult rats, and none of them include head-fixation.

New Method: We introduce a novel spherical treadmill apparatus for head-fixed rats that allows a wide repertory of natural responses. The rat is secured to a frame and placed on a freely rotating sphere.