Maximum likelihood estimation and identification directly from single-channel recordings

We present a method for analysis of noisy sampled data from a single-channel patch clamp which bypasses restoration of an idealized quantal signal. We show that, even in the absence of a specific model, the conductance levels and mean dwell times within those levels can be estimated. Estimation of the rate constants of a hypothesized kinetic scheme is more difficult. We present examples in which the rate constants can be effectively estimated and examples in which they cannot.