Data acquisition types

A wide range of data acquisition methods are supported to capture various aspects of neuroscience experiments.

Table of contents

1. Audio and Behavioral Tracking
   1. Audio
   2. Behavioral Tracking
2. Electrophysiology
   1. Electroencephalography (EEG)
   2. Electroneurogram (ENG)
   3. Extracellular Electrophysiology
   4. Intracellular Electrophysiology
3. Optical Imaging
   1. Fiber Photometry
   2. Miniscope Microscopy
   3. Confocal Microscopy
   4. Light Field Microscopy (LFM)
   5. Single-Photon Microscopy
   6. Two-Photon Microscopy
   7. Three-Photon Microscopy
4. Magnetic and Functional Imaging
   1. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
   2. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
   3. Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
5. Tomography and Ultrasound
   1. Computed Tomography (CT)
   2. Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
   3. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
   4. Functional Ultrasound Imaging (fUS)
6. General Time Series
7. Data acquisition API access

Audio and Behavioral Tracking

Audio

Audio data acquisition captures sound recordings related to the experiment. Used in studies examining auditory processing, communication, and the effects of auditory stimuli on behavior or neural activity.

Behavioral Tracking

Behavioral tracking data records the movement and actions of subjects during experiments. This method monitors and records the movements or behaviors of subjects in response to specific conditions or stimuli, essential for understanding the neural basis of behavior, learning, and memory.

Electrophysiology

Electroencephalography (EEG)

EEG data records electrical activity of the brain. The biosignals detected by EEG represent the postsynaptic potentials of pyramidal neurons in the neocortex and allocortex. It is typically non-invasive, with EEG electrodes placed along the scalp using the International 10–20 system or variations.

Electroneurogram (ENG)

ENG data records electrical activity from peripheral nerves. An electroneurogram is a method used to visualize directly recorded electrical activity of neurons in the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord) or the peripheral nervous system (nerves, ganglions).

Extracellular Electrophysiology

Extracellular electrophysiology data records electrical activity from outside cells. In this technique, cells’ electrical signals are recorded using electrodes outside the cell. The primary advantages include ease of obtaining recordings, ability to record from numerous neurons simultaneously, and capability to record over days and weeks.

Intracellular Electrophysiology

Intracellular electrophysiology data records electrical activity from inside cells. This technique inserts a glass microelectrode into a single cell (usually a neuron) to precisely measure its electrical activity (voltages across or currents passing through the cellular membranes).

Optical Imaging

Fiber Photometry

Fiber photometry data records fluorescence signals from specific neural populations. It is a calcium imaging technique that captures ‘bulk’ or population-level calcium (Ca2+) activity from specific cell-types within a brain region or functional network to study neural circuits.

Miniscope Microscopy

Miniscope microscopy data captures neural activity in freely behaving animals using miniature microscopes. These head-mounted microscopes are light enough for mice and rats to carry without significantly interfering with behavior. They are coupled with implanted gradient-refractive-index (GRIN) lenses or cortical windows for deep and superficial brain imaging.

Confocal Microscopy

Confocal microscopy data captures high-resolution optical sections of samples. Most frequently called confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) or laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), it is an optical imaging technique that increases optical resolution and contrast using a spatial pinhole to block out-of-focus light in image formation.

Light Field Microscopy (LFM)

LFM data captures 3D information in a single shot using an array of microlenses. This scanning-free 3-dimensional microscopic imaging method is based on the theory of light field, allowing sub-second (~10 Hz) large volumetric imaging ([~0.1 to 1 mm]3) with ~1 μm spatial resolution in conditions of weak scattering and semi-transparence.

Single-Photon Microscopy

Single-photon microscopy data captures fluorescence images using single-photon excitation. This imaging technique allows for the visualization of cellular and subcellular structures in living tissue with high spatial resolution.

Two-Photon Microscopy

Two-photon microscopy data captures high-resolution images of living tissue using two-photon excitation. This fluorescence imaging technique is particularly well-suited to image scattering living tissue of up to about one millimeter in thickness. Unlike traditional fluorescence microscopy, where the excitation wavelength is shorter than the emission wavelength, two-photon excitation requires simultaneous excitation by two photons with longer wavelength than the emitted light.

Three-Photon Microscopy

Three-photon microscopy data captures high-resolution images of living tissue using three-photon excitation, allowing for deeper tissue penetration. This high-resolution fluorescence microscopy is based on nonlinear excitation effect. Different from two-photon excitation microscopy, it uses three exciting photons, with the fluorescent dyes emitting one photon whose energy is slightly smaller than three times the energy of each incident photon.

Magnetic and Functional Imaging

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI data provides detailed anatomical images of the brain and body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio waves to generate images of the organs in the body. Unlike computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans, MRI does not involve X-rays or ionizing radiation.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

fMRI data measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow. This technique relies on the fact that cerebral blood flow and neuronal activation are coupled, allowing for the visualization of brain activity patterns during various tasks or states.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

MEG data records magnetic fields produced by electrical currents in the brain. It is a functional neuroimaging technique that uses very sensitive magnetometers, typically SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices), while SERF (spin exchange relaxation-free) magnetometers are being investigated for future machines.

Tomography and Ultrasound

Computed Tomography (CT)

CT data provides detailed cross-sectional images of the subject. A computed tomography scan (formerly called computed axial tomography scan or CAT scan) is a medical imaging technique used to obtain detailed internal images of the body.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

PET data provides functional images of metabolic processes in the body. This functional imaging technique uses radioactive substances known as radiotracers to visualize and measure changes in metabolic processes, blood flow, regional chemical composition, and absorption. Different tracers are used for various imaging purposes, depending on the target process within the body.

Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

SPECT data provides 3D images of radioactive tracer distribution in the body. It is a nuclear medicine tomographic imaging technique using gamma rays, similar to conventional nuclear medicine planar imaging using a gamma camera (scintigraphy), but able to provide true 3D information.

Functional Ultrasound Imaging (fUS)

fUS data captures brain activity through changes in blood flow using ultrasound. A medical ultrasound imaging technique for detecting or measuring changes in neural activities or metabolism, typically through measuring blood flow or hemodynamic changes. The method can be seen as an extension of Doppler imaging.

General Time Series

General time series data represents any sequential measurements indexed by time. This format is versatile and can accommodate various types of continuous recordings that don’t fit into more specific categories.

Data acquisition API access

The API allows for programmable access to Data acquisition, enabling you to read, edit, and delete Data acquisition through the API. Learn more about the Data acquisition’ fields and data structure on the Data acquisition API page.