Computer analysis of vestibular responses to putative neurotransmitters

An inexpensive microcomputer (Commodore 64K) based system was developed for the analysis of neural spike trains. The trains were recorded from single ampullary units in response to mechanical stimulation of the isolated semicircular canal of the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana). A BASIC program provided a number of options while machine language subroutines generated interstimulus interval (ISI) and peristimulus time (PST) histograms. Up to thirty 5-s spike trains could be combined for analysis (0.1 ms resolution ISI, 100 ms bin width PST). Histograms and summary statistics were saved on floppy disks. The cost of adding this computer system to an existing neurophysiology laboratory is less than US $600 (printed, tape, and disk versions of these programs are available). The system was used to measure vestibular responses to putative vestibular neurotransmitters such as carbachol (an acetylcholine mimic) (Rossi et al., 1980) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (Flock and Lam, 1974).