davila7/claude-code-templates/neuropixels-analysis

Claude Code and agent skill by davila7/claude-code-templates

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Neuropixels neural recording analysis. Load SpikeGLX/OpenEphys data, preprocess, motion correction, Kilosort4 spike sorting, quality metrics, Allen/IBL curation, AI-assisted visual analysis, for Neuropixels 1.0/2.0 extracellular electrophysiology. Use when working with neural recordings, spike sorting, extracellular electrophysiology, or when the user mentions Neuropixels, SpikeGLX, Open Ephys, Kilosort, quality metrics, or unit curation.

Install

npx vskill@latest install davila7/claude-code-templates/neuropixels-analysis

SKILL.md

Neuropixels Data Analysis

Overview

Comprehensive toolkit for analyzing Neuropixels high-density neural recordings using current best practices from SpikeInterface, Allen Institute, and International Brain Laboratory (IBL). Supports the full workflow from raw data to publication-ready curated units.

When to Use This Skill

This skill should be used when:

  • Working with Neuropixels recordings (.ap.bin, .lf.bin, .meta files)
  • Loading data from SpikeGLX, Open Ephys, or NWB formats
  • Preprocessing neural recordings (filtering, CAR, bad channel detection)
  • Detecting and correcting motion/drift in recordings
  • Running spike sorting (Kilosort4, SpykingCircus2, Mountainsort5)
  • Computing quality metrics (SNR, ISI violations, presence ratio)
  • Curating units using Allen/IBL criteria
  • Creating visualizations of neural data
  • Exporting results to Phy or NWB

Supported Hardware & Formats

ProbeElectrodesChannelsNotes
Neuropixels 1.0960384Requires phase_shift correction
Neuropixels 2.0 (single)1280384Denser geometry
Neuropixels 2.0 (4-shank)5120384Multi-region recording
FormatExtensionReader
SpikeGLX.ap.bin, .lf.bin, .metasi.read_spikeglx()
Open Ephys.continuous, .oebinsi.read_openephys()
NWB.nwbsi.read_nwb()

Quick Start

Basic Import and Setup
python
import spikeinterface.full as si
import neuropixels_analysis as npa
# Configure parallel processing
job_kwargs = dict(n_jobs=-1, chunk_duration='1s', progress_bar=True)
Loading Data
python
# SpikeGLX (most common)
recording = si.read_spikeglx('/path/to/data', stream_id='imec0.ap')
# Open Ephys (common for many labs)
recording = si.read_openephys('/path/to/Record_Node_101/')
# Check available streams
streams, ids = si.get_neo_streams('spikeglx', '/path/to/data')
print(streams) # ['imec0.ap', 'imec0.lf', 'nidq']
# For testing with subset of data
recording = recording.frame_slice(0, int(60 * recording.get_sampling_frequency()))
Complete Pipeline (One Command)
python
# Run full analysis pipeline
results = npa.run_pipeline(
recording,
output_dir='output/',
sorter='kilosort4',
curation_method='allen',
)
# Access results
sorting = results['sorting']
metrics = results['metrics']
labels = results['labels']

Standard Analysis Workflow

1. Preprocessing
python
# Recommended preprocessing chain
rec = si.highpass_filter(recording, freq_min=400)
rec = si.phase_shift(rec) # Required for Neuropixels 1.0
bad_ids, _ = si.detect_bad_channels(rec)
rec = rec.remove_channels(bad_ids)
rec = si.common_reference(rec, operator='median')
# Or use our wrapper
rec = npa.preprocess(recording)
2. Check and Correct Drift
python
# Check for drift (always do this!)
motion_info = npa.estimate_motion(rec, preset='kilosort_like')
npa.plot_drift(rec, motion_info, output='drift_map.png')
# Apply correction if needed
if motion_info['motion'].max() > 10: # microns
rec = npa.correct_motion(rec, preset='nonrigid_accurate')
3. Spike Sorting
python
# Kilosort4 (recommended, requires GPU)
sorting = si.run_sorter('kilosort4', rec, folder='ks4_output')
# CPU alternatives
sorting = si.run_sorter('tridesclous2', rec, folder='tdc2_output')
sorting = si.run_sorter('spykingcircus2', rec, folder='sc2_output')
sorting = si.run_sorter('mountainsort5', rec, folder='ms5_output')
# Check available sorters
print(si.installed_sorters())
4. Postprocessing
python
# Create analyzer and compute all extensions
analyzer = si.create_sorting_analyzer(sorting, rec, sparse=True)
analyzer.compute('random_spikes', max_spikes_per_unit=500)
analyzer.compute('waveforms', ms_before=1.0, ms_after=2.0)
analyzer.compute('templates', operators=['average', 'std'])
analyzer.compute('spike_amplitudes')
analyzer.compute('correlograms', window_ms=50.0, bin_ms=1.0)
analyzer.compute('unit_locations', method='monopolar_triangulation')
analyzer.compute('quality_metrics')
metrics = analyzer.get_extension('quality_metrics').get_data()
5. Curation
python
# Allen Institute criteria (conservative)
good_units = metrics.query("""
presence_ratio > 0.9 and
isi_violations_ratio < 0.5 and
amplitude_cutoff < 0.1
""").index.tolist()
# Or use automated curation
labels = npa.curate(metrics, method='allen') # 'allen', 'ibl', 'strict'
6. AI-Assisted Curation (For Uncertain Units)

When using this skill with Claude Code, Claude can directly analyze waveform plots and provide expert curation decisions. For programmatic API access:

python
from anthropic import Anthropic
# Setup API client
client = Anthropic()
# Analyze uncertain units visually
uncertain = metrics.query('snr > 3 and snr < 8').index.tolist()
for unit_id in uncertain:
result = npa.analyze_unit_visually(analyzer, unit_id, api_client=client)
print(f"Unit {unit_id}: {result['classification']}")
print(f" Reasoning: {result['reasoning'][:100]}...")

Claude Code Integration: When running within Claude Code, ask Claude to examine waveform/correlogram plots directly - no API setup required.

7. Generate Analysis Report
python
# Generate comprehensive HTML report with visualizations
report_dir = npa.generate_analysis_report(results, 'output/')
# Opens report.html with summary stats, figures, and unit table
# Print formatted summary to console
npa.print_analysis_summary(results)
8. Export Results
python
# Export to Phy for manual review
si.export_to_phy(analyzer, output_folder='phy_export/',
compute_pc_features=True, compute_amplitudes=True)
# Export to NWB
from spikeinterface.exporters import export_to_nwb
export_to_nwb(rec, sorting, 'output.nwb')
# Save quality metrics
metrics.to_csv('quality_metrics.csv')

Common Pitfalls and Best Practices

  1. Always check drift before spike sorting - drift > 10μm significantly impacts quality
  2. Use phase_shift for Neuropixels 1.0 probes (not needed for 2.0)
  3. Save preprocessed data to avoid recomputing - use rec.save(folder='preprocessed/')
  4. Use GPU for Kilosort4 - it's 10-50x faster than CPU alternatives
  5. Review uncertain units manually - automated curation is a starting point
  6. Combine metrics with AI - use metrics for clear cases, AI for borderline units
  7. Document your thresholds - different analyses may need different criteria
  8. Export to Phy for critical experiments - human oversight is valuable

Key Parameters to Adjust

Preprocessing
  • freq_min: Highpass cutoff (300-400 Hz typical)
  • detect_threshold: Bad channel detection sensitivity
Motion Correction
  • preset: 'kilosort_like' (fast) or 'nonrigid_accurate' (better for severe drift)
Spike Sorting (Kilosort4)
  • batch_size: Samples per batch (30000 default)
  • nblocks: Number of drift blocks (increase for long recordings)
  • Th_learned: Detection threshold (lower = more spikes)
Quality Metrics
  • snr_threshold: Signal-to-noise cutoff (3-5 typical)
  • isi_violations_ratio: Refractory violations (0.01-0.5)
  • presence_ratio: Recording coverage (0.5-0.95)

Bundled Resources

scripts/preprocess_recording.py

Automated preprocessing script:

bash
python scripts/preprocess_recording.py /path/to/data --output preprocessed/
scripts/run_sorting.py

Run spike sorting:

bash
python scripts/run_sorting.py preprocessed/ --sorter kilosort4 --output sorting/
scripts/compute_metrics.py

Compute quality metrics and apply curation:

bash
python scripts/compute_metrics.py sorting/ preprocessed/ --output metrics/ --curation allen
scripts/export_to_phy.py

Export to Phy for manual curation:

bash
python scripts/export_to_phy.py metrics/analyzer --output phy_export/
assets/analysis_template.py

Complete analysis template. Copy and customize:

bash
cp assets/analysis_template.py my_analysis.py
# Edit parameters and run
python my_analysis.py
reference/standard_workflow.md

Detailed step-by-step workflow with explanations for each stage.

reference/api_reference.md

Quick function reference organized by module.

reference/plotting_guide.md

Comprehensive visualization guide for publication-quality figures.

Detailed Reference Guides

TopicReference
Full workflowreference/standard_workflow.md
API referencereference/api_reference.md
Plotting guidereference/plotting_guide.md
PreprocessingPREPROCESSING.md
Spike sortingSPIKE_SORTING.md
Motion correctionMOTION_CORRECTION.md
Quality metricsQUALITY_METRICS.md
Automated curationAUTOMATED_CURATION.md
AI-assisted curationAI_CURATION.md
Waveform analysisANALYSIS.md

Installation

bash
# Core packages
pip install spikeinterface[full] probeinterface neo
# Spike sorters
pip install kilosort # Kilosort4 (GPU required)
pip install spykingcircus # SpykingCircus2 (CPU)
pip install mountainsort5 # Mountainsort5 (CPU)
# Our toolkit
pip install neuropixels-analysis
# Optional: AI curation
pip install anthropic
# Optional: IBL tools
pip install ibl-neuropixel ibllib

Project Structure

project/
├── raw_data/
│ └── recording_g0/
│ └── recording_g0_imec0/
│ ├── recording_g0_t0.imec0.ap.bin
│ └── recording_g0_t0.imec0.ap.meta
├── preprocessed/ # Saved preprocessed recording
├── motion/ # Motion estimation results
├── sorting_output/ # Spike sorter output
├── analyzer/ # SortingAnalyzer (waveforms, metrics)
├── phy_export/ # For manual curation
├── ai_curation/ # AI analysis reports
└── results/
├── quality_metrics.csv
├── curation_labels.json
└── output.nwb

Additional Resources

  • SpikeInterface Docs: https://spikeinterface.readthedocs.io/
  • Neuropixels Tutorial: https://spikeinterface.readthedocs.io/en/stable/how_to/analyze_neuropixels.html
  • Kilosort4 GitHub: https://github.com/MouseLand/Kilosort
  • IBL Neuropixel Tools: https://github.com/int-brain-lab/ibl-neuropixel
  • Allen Institute ecephys: https://github.com/AllenInstitute/ecephys_spike_sorting
  • Bombcell (Automated QC): https://github.com/Julie-Fabre/bombcell
  • SpikeAgent (AI Curation): https://github.com/SpikeAgent/SpikeAgent

Security

  • Security scanPassed, 95 of 100Pattern checks on the skill's files.
  • Model reviewPassed

Quality evaluation

  • Task evaluationNot runNo evaluation yet. Run one in Skill Studio.

Source

Popularity

Repository stars
24,137
Repository forks
2,373
Repository npm downloads, 7 days
6,579
7-day trend score
71

Stars and forks are for the whole GitHub repository, not this skill alone. Downloads are for the repository's npm package. Refreshed 5 Apr 2026, 7 months ago.

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