Florida research open-source synchronization tool (FROST) for electrophysiology experiments

Jose D Alcantara; Robert S Eisinger; Enrico Opri; Madison Kelberman; Jackson N Cagle; Julieth Gomez; Kelly D Foote; Michael S Okun; Aysegul Gunduz

doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108800

Florida research open-source synchronization tool (FROST) for electrophysiology experiments

J Neurosci Methods. 2020 Jul 15:341:108800. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108800. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Authors

Jose D Alcantara¹, Robert S Eisinger², Enrico Opri³, Madison Kelberman³, Jackson N Cagle³, Julieth Gomez³, Kelly D Foote⁴, Michael S Okun⁵, Aysegul Gunduz⁶

Affiliations

¹ J. Crayton Pruitt Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States. Electronic address: jose.alcantara@ufl.edu.
² Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
³ J. Crayton Pruitt Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
⁴ Department of Neurology, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Department of Neurosurgery, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
⁵ Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Department of Neurology, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
⁶ J. Crayton Pruitt Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.

Abstract

Background: Accurate interpretation of electrophysiological data in cognitive and behavioral experiments requires the acquisition of time labels, such as marking the exact start of a condition or moment a stimulus is presented to a research subject.

New method: Here we present an inexpensive (∼30 USD) device used as a central relay for multiple peripheral devices, such as a computer screen presenting an experiment, a pressure-sensor push button, a multi-button responder, a pulse oximeter sensor, a light-emitting diode trigger for camera synchronization, and more. We refer to this device as the Florida Research Open-source Synchronization Tool (FROST). FROST allows for easy hardware and Arduino-based firmware modifications that enable a standard platform for the integration of novel peripheral sensors.

Results: With two examples, we demonstrate the application of this device during human research experiments: intracranial-electroencephalography (EEG) recordings in a patient with epilepsy and surface-EEG recordings in a healthy participant. We provide an example setup for a rodent experiment as well. We also demonstrate the timing delays of our device.

Comparison with existing methods: There is currently very few existing open-source synchronization tools for electrophysiological research that enable customization with new device compatibility. We developed this tool to enable widespread replication for many applications through an open-source platform.

Conclusions: FROST can be easily adapted for research experiments beyond the included example cases. All materials are open-source at github.com/Brain-Mapping-Lab/FROST.

Keywords: Electrophysiology; Neurophysiology; Open-source; Synchronization.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Brain Mapping*
Computers
Electrophysiology
Florida
Humans
Software*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding