Burst detection algorithms for the analysis of spatio-temporal patterns in cortical networks of neurons

Cortical neurons extracted from the developing rat central nervous system and put in culture, show, after a few days, spontaneous activity with a typical electrophysiological pattern ranging from stochastic spiking to synchronized bursting. Using microelectrode arrays (MEA), on which dissociated cultures can be grown for long-term measurements, we recorded the electrophysiological activity of cortical networks during development, in order to monitor their responses at different stages of the maturation process. Employing algorithms for detection and analysis of bursts in single-channel spike trains and of synchronized network bursts in multi-channel spike trains, significant changes have been revealed in the firing dynamics at different stages of the developmental process.