Peri-event cross-correlation over time for analysis of interactions in neuronal firing

Several methods have been described in the literature to verify the presence of couplings between neurons in the brain. In this paper we introduce the peri-event cross-correlation over time (PECCOT) to describe the interaction among the two neurons as a function of the event onset. Instead of averaging over time, the PECCOT averages the cross-correlation over instances of the event. As a consequence, the PECCOT is able to characterize with high temporal resolution the interactions over time among neurons. To illustrate the method, the PECCOT is applied to a simulated dataset and for analysis of synchrony in recordings of a rat performing a go/no go behavioral lever press task. We verify the presence of synchrony before the lever press time and its suppression afterwards.