ecephys spike sorting

https://github.com/AllenInstitute/ecephys_spike_sorting

Modules for processing extracellular electrophysiology data from Neuropixels probes.

Overview

The first three modules take data saved by the Open Ephys GUI and prepare it for spike sorting by Kilosort2. Following the spike-sorting step (using the kilosort_helper module), we clean up the outputs and calculate mean waveforms and quality metrics for each unit.

This code is still under development, and we welcome feedback about any step in the pipeline.

Further documentation can be found in each module's README file. For more information on Kilosort2, please read through the GitHub wiki.

Modules

1. extract_from_npx: Calls a binary executable that converts data from compressed NPX format into .dat files (continuous data) and .npy files (event data)

2. depth_estimation: Uses the LFP data to identify the surface channel, which is required by the median subtraction and kilosort modules.

3. median_subtraction: Calls a binary executable that removes the DC offset and common-mode noise from the AP band continuous file.

4. kilosort_helper: Generates config files for Kilosort and launches spike sorting via the Matlab engine.

5. kilosort_postprocessing: Removes putative double-counted spikes from Kilosort output.

6. noise_templates: Identifies noise units based on their waveform shape and ISI histogram.

7. mean_waveforms: Extracts mean waveforms from the raw data, given spike times and unit IDs. Also calculates metrics for each waveform.

8. quality_metrics: Calculates quality metrics for each unit to assess isolation and sorting quality.

(Not used) automerging: Automatically merges templates that belong to the same unit (included in case it's helpful to others).

Installation and Usage

These modules require Python 3.5+, and have been tested with Python 3.5, 3.6, and 3.7.

Three of the modules (extract_from_npx, median_subtraction, and kilosort_helper) have non-Python dependencies that will need to be installed prior to use.

We recommend using pipenv to run these modules. From the ecephys_spike_sorting top-level directory, run the following commands from a terminal:

Linux

    $ pip install --user pipenv
    $ export PIPENV_VENV_IN_PROJECT=1
    $ pipenv install
    $ pipenv shell
    (ecephys_spike_sorting) $ pip install .

You can now edit one of the processing scripts found in ecephys_spike_sorting/scripts and run via:

    (ecephys_spike_sorting) $ python ecephys_spike_sorting/scripts/batch_processing.py

See the scripts README file for more information on their usage.

To leave the pipenv virtual environment, simply type:

    (ecephys_spike_sorting) $ exit

macOS

If you don't have it already, install homebrew. Then, type:

    $ brew install pipenv
    $ export PIPENV_VENV_IN_PROJECT=1
    $ pipenv install
    $ pipenv shell
    (ecephys_spike_sorting) $ pip install .

You can now edit one of the processing scripts found in ecephys_spike_sorting/scripts and run via:

    (ecephys_spike_sorting) $ python ecephys_spike_sorting/scripts/batch_processing.py

See the scripts README file for more information on their usage.

To leave the pipenv virtual environment, simply type:

    (ecephys_spike_sorting) $ exit

Windows

    $ pip install --user pipenv
    $ set PIPENV_VENV_IN_PROJECT=1
    $ pipenv install
    $ pipenv shell
    (.venv) $ pip install .

Note: This will work in the standard Command Prompt, but the cmder console emulator has better compatibility with Python virtual environments.

You can now edit one of the processing scripts found in ecephys_spike_sorting\scripts and run via:

    (.venv) $ python ecephys_spike_sorting\scripts\batch_processing.py

See the scripts README file for more information on their usage.

To leave the pipenv virtual environment, simply type:

    (.venv) $ exit

Level of Support

This code is an important part of the internal Allen Institute code base and we are actively using and maintaining it. The implementation is not yet finalized, so we welcome feedback about any aspects of the software. If you'd like to submit changes to this repository, we encourage you to create an issue beforehand, so we know what others are working on.

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