Pyneal

Pyneal provides real-time access to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data and enables on-the-fly analysis and delivery of neurofeedback from regions of interest during rt-fMRI experiments.

Key Features:

• Real-Time Data Access: Enables access to ongoing fMRI data streams during scans for monitoring data quality and computing metrics in real time, including delivery of neurofeedback from specific regions of interest.
• Dynamic Experimental Control: Supports dynamic control of experimental flow and interfaces with remote devices to enable interactive and adaptive experiment behavior.
• Compatibility Across Scanner Manufacturers: Compatible with data streams from GE, Siemens, and Philips scanners.
• Customizable Analysis Pipelines: Supports fully customizable, Python-based analysis pipelines for user-defined real-time analyses.

Scientific Applications:

• Neurofeedback Training: Enables closed-loop delivery of feedback based on real-time fMRI signals from defined regions of interest.
• Adaptive Experimental Designs: Facilitates experiments that adjust stimuli or task parameters in response to ongoing brain activity.
• Interactive Brain–Computer Interfaces: Supports real-time signal processing and device control for interactive BCI applications.
• Real-Time Data Quality Monitoring: Allows monitoring of scan quality metrics during acquisition to inform experimental decisions.

Methodology:

Implemented in Python and leveraging open-source neuroimaging libraries, Pyneal ingests scanner data streams, supports user-defined real-time analysis pipelines, and uses network communication to deliver outputs and control remote devices.