ProbeInterface

ProbeInterface standardizes representation and management of neural probe metadata to support accurate mapping of electrode channel order and relative geometries for extracellular electrophysiology and spike-sorting.

Key Features:

• Python API for probe creation and visualization: Provides a Python API to programmatically define probe geometries and visualize probe layouts.
• Automated wiring description generation: Generates wiring descriptions for recording probes, headstages, adapters, and acquisition systems to encode channel mappings.
• Open library of probes: Maintains a library of probe models compiled in collaboration with probe manufacturers to represent diverse probe designs.
• Standardized file format for FAIR compliance: Exports probe metadata into a standardized file format that captures probe geometry and channel mapping to support Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable descriptions and interoperability with other neuroscience standards.

Scientific Applications:

• Spike-sorting accuracy: Encodes electrode channel order and spatial geometry to reduce errors in spike-sorting and downstream electrophysiological analyses.
• Extracellular neural recordings metadata management: Provides standardized metadata for extracellular electrophysiology experiments involving multi-channel electrode arrays.
• Complex multi-channel array experiments: Supports experimental setups with multi-shank and dense electrode arrays requiring precise spatial and wiring descriptions.

Methodology:

Implements a Python package with a programmatic API to create and visualize probe geometries, automatically generate wiring descriptions for probes, headstages, adapters and acquisition systems, and export probe metadata in a standardized file format.