NeuroMap: a spline-based interactive open-source software for spatiotemporal mapping of 2D and 3D MEA data

1. Front Neuroinform. 2011 Jan 31;4:119. doi: 10.3389/fninf.2010.00119.
eCollection 2011.

NeuroMap: A Spline-Based Interactive Open-Source Software for Spatiotemporal
Mapping of 2D and 3D MEA Data.

Abdoun O(1), Joucla S, Mazzocco C, Yvert B.

Author information:
(1)Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, INCIA, UMR5287 Bordeaux,
France.

A major characteristic of neural networks is the complexity of their
organization at various spatial scales, from microscopic local circuits to
macroscopic brain-scale areas. Understanding how neural information is processed
thus entails the ability to study them at multiple scales simultaneously. This
is made possible using microelectrodes array (MEA) technology. Indeed,
high-density MEAs provide large-scale coverage (several square millimeters) of
whole neural structures combined with microscopic resolution (about 50 μm) of
unit activity. Yet, current options for spatiotemporal representation of
MEA-collected data remain limited. Here we present NeuroMap, a new interactive
Matlab-based software for spatiotemporal mapping of MEA data. NeuroMap uses thin
plate spline interpolation, which provides several assets with respect to
conventional mapping methods used currently. First, any MEA design can be
considered, including 2D or 3D, regular or irregular, arrangements of
electrodes. Second, spline interpolation allows the estimation of activity
across the tissue with local extrema not necessarily at recording sites.
Finally, this interpolation approach provides a straightforward analytical
estimation of the spatial Laplacian for better current sources localization. In
this software, coregistration of 2D MEA data on the anatomy of the neural tissue
is made possible by fine matching of anatomical data with electrode positions
using rigid-deformation-based correction of anatomical pictures. Overall,
NeuroMap provides substantial material for detailed spatiotemporal analysis of
MEA data. The package is distributed under GNU General Public License and
available at http://sites.google.com/site/neuromapsoftware.

DOI: 10.3389/fninf.2010.00119
PMCID: PMC3034234
PMID: 21344013

Auteurs Bordeaux Neurocampus