Automated spectral analysis of neurophysiological data using intermediate magnetic tape storage

A software package for the Digital Equipment Corporation Lab-8 Computer is described which performs frequency domain analysis of biological input-output signals where each signal may consist of either a continuous analog record or a series of point events in time such as action potentials. The data to be analysed is first stored in digital format on a DECtape magnetic tape storage device and is then accessed by a series of programs which sample the data, perform the fast Fourier transform upon the sampled data and then compute averaged spectral estimates from the Fourier coefficients. Intermediate data samples and final spectral estimates are stored on a DF32 magnetic disc unit as files within the Disc Monitor System. Ancillary programs are provided which allow visual and numerical examination of the data at various stages of the process. Access to the data and arithmetic manipulation of the data is provided through the interpretive language FOCAL.