pattern function, density distribution function, phrenic motoneuran computer analysis of neuron activity

Abstract

The analysis of the electrical activity (trains of spikes, volleys) of single neurons is proposed in form of a pattern function. From the pattern function and its variance it is possible to obtain full statistical description of volleys including the density distribution of spikes in the volley. An algorithm for finding the pattern function and the estimate of variance from a set of experimentally obtained volleys is given. Preliminary physiological conclusions for phrenic motoneurons are derived.