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Development of a software toolbox for electrical stimulation experiments using micro-electrode arrays (MEAs)
Semester project with the goal of developing a Python toolbox for electrical stimulation of neurons on micro-electrode arrays.
Keywords: Microelectrode Arrays, MEA, Python, Programming , Electrical Stimulation, Neurons, Current Stimulation, Voltage Stimulation
Micro-electrode arrays (MEAs) are an important tool in neuroscience that can be used to record extracellular potentials of vast numbers of neurons at the same time. They further allow us to stimulate the same neurons with voltage or current pulses with the aim of evoking action potentials. In our lab, we developed a high-resolution MEA that delivers precisely controlled stimulation pulses to any of 26,400 microelectrodes. It allows us to study single cell stimulation with the goal of advancing technologies such as neuroprosthetics and retinal implants.
We currently have several projects that successfully use various stimulation protocols and we want to continue developing and optimizing these protocols for a host of different biological and experimental conditions. For this purpose, we would like to simplify and streamline the software tools that we use.
One task in this project will consist of programming and software testing. But an equally important aspect is to get an understanding of the different experimental problems and how to address them. For this, the student will assist researchers in their experiments, learn some of the techniques and will conduct experiments themselves.
We are looking for a student who has experience in Python and object-oriented programming, who has an interest in problem solving and who wants to get experience in conducting electrophysiology experiments.
Micro-electrode arrays (MEAs) are an important tool in neuroscience that can be used to record extracellular potentials of vast numbers of neurons at the same time. They further allow us to stimulate the same neurons with voltage or current pulses with the aim of evoking action potentials. In our lab, we developed a high-resolution MEA that delivers precisely controlled stimulation pulses to any of 26,400 microelectrodes. It allows us to study single cell stimulation with the goal of advancing technologies such as neuroprosthetics and retinal implants. We currently have several projects that successfully use various stimulation protocols and we want to continue developing and optimizing these protocols for a host of different biological and experimental conditions. For this purpose, we would like to simplify and streamline the software tools that we use. One task in this project will consist of programming and software testing. But an equally important aspect is to get an understanding of the different experimental problems and how to address them. For this, the student will assist researchers in their experiments, learn some of the techniques and will conduct experiments themselves. We are looking for a student who has experience in Python and object-oriented programming, who has an interest in problem solving and who wants to get experience in conducting electrophysiology experiments.
The goal of this project is to develop a python toolbox with which one can implement complex electrical stimulation protocols in a simple fashion, potentially even with a graphical user interface. It must be well documented, easy to install, easy to use and versatile.
The goal of this project is to develop a python toolbox with which one can implement complex electrical stimulation protocols in a simple fashion, potentially even with a graphical user interface. It must be well documented, easy to install, easy to use and versatile.
Roland Diggelmann
roland[dot]diggelmann[at]bsse[dot]ethz[dot]ch
Roland Diggelmann roland[dot]diggelmann[at]bsse[dot]ethz[dot]ch