Digital Signal Processor Integrated Recording System for Visual Neurophysiology using a Single Personal Computer

A novel visual neurophysiology experimental system, utilizing a single computer and one data acquisition system (DAQ), is introduced. Matlab-PsychToolbox manages visual stimuli and behavioral control, while the DAQ, with its powerful computational capability, handles neural recording and real-time analysis. Additional analysis, such as calculating the peri-stimulus time histogram, is conducted in a second instance of Matlab. Variables are synchronized across these applications within a 1 ms. The parallel execution of two Matlabs allows for precise real-time control and simultaneous resource-consuming analysis. The system exhibited adequate temporal performance for visual neurophysiology experiments, and operated stably for over 2000 hours in experiments involving awake macaque monkeys.