The Dynamic Clamp protocol, developed indepently by Sharp et. al. (J. Neurophysiol. 69:992-995, 1993) and Robinson and Kawai (J Neurosci Methods 49(3):157-65, 1993)
allows "insertion" of simulated membrane conductances in, and/or simulated synapses between
biological neurons. Reynaldo Pinto et al. developed a very nice clamp implementation for windows platforms called DYNCLAMP2/4 .
I have modified DYNCLAMP2 with the following main additions/changes
The software is still based on a ADC/DAC DIGIDATA 1200A board from Axon Instruments, Inc.,
written in C++ and runs
in any PC better then PIII 450 MHz under Windows NT 4.0 but the program is also compatible with
Windows 95/98/2000.
A spike generator can replace a biological presynaptic neuron. Spikes are
generated either periodically in a fixed pattern or from a file
containing predefined spike times. This feature is actually an original
feature of R. Pinto but was not published yet.
To de-clutter the screen of the dynamic clamp computer, in StdpC the
parameter dialogs for chemical synapses and Hodgkin-Huxley conductances
have been moved to seperate popup windows.
To allow for easy debugging of wiring and gain problems the software now
has two data displays that can show input and/ or output channels or
functions thereof (averages, spikes detetected).
You can now save and load the current parameter settings of the
clamp. This way one does not have to redo parameter settings every time
the StdpC program is restarted. The settings are stored in a simple ASCII
format that allows editing by hand or snooping around for curiosity.
The two chemical synapses can now be made plastic abeying a Spike Timing
Dependent Plasticity protocol. There are two different protocols to
choose from and a variety of paramters determining the details of the
learning mechanism
The StdpC supports a simple form of experimental protocol automization
(scripting). The user can specify a script file that contains events at
given times. These events include switching on and off of synaptic
connections or Hodgkin=Huxley type conductances as well as arbitrary
parameter changes. The script is loaded on starting the clamping process
and executes the commands at the given times after clamping started.
Copyright 2000, R. D. Pinto, R. C. Elson, A. Szücs, M. I. Rabinovich, A. I. Selverston, and H. D. I. Abarbanel.
Copyright 2004, T. Nowotny, R. D. Pinto, R. C. Elson, A. Szücs, M. I. Rabinovich, A. I. Selverston, and H. D. I. Abarbanel.
Copyright 2000, 2004 The Regents of the University of California.
All Rights Reserved.
Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute any part of StdpC for educational,
research, and non-profit purposes, without fee, and without a written agreement is hereby granted,
provided that the above copyright notice, this paragraph and the following three paragraphs appear in
all copies.
Those desiring to incorporate StdpC into commercial products or use for commercial
purposes should contact Technology Transfer & Intellectual Property Services, University of California,
San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0910, La Jolla, CA 92093-0910, Phone: (858) 534-5815, FAX: (858) 534-7345.
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA OR THE AUTHORS BE LIABLE TO ANY PARTY FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT,
SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOST PROFITS, CLAIMS OR DEMANDS,
OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF StdpC, EVEN IF THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA OR THE AUTHORS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
THE StdpC SOFTWARE PROVIDED HEREIN IS ON AN "AS IS" BASIS, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
AND THE AUTHORS HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT, UPDATES, ENHANCEMENTS, OR MODIFICATIONS.
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AND THE AUTHORS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS AND EXTENDS NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND,
EITHER IMPLIED OR EXPRESS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR THAT THE USE OF StdpC WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY PATENT,
TRADEMARK OR OTHER RIGHTS.
If you agree to the disclaimer above, download the free software here:
Version 3
Full software (binary and source code): StdpC.zip
Brief manual: StdpC manual.
Version 4
Binary package (all you need to use it): StdpCv4_bin.zip
Full source package (if you want to modify/ recompile):
StdpCv4_src.zip
Brief manual: StdpCv4 manual.
If you have problems downloading, installing, or using the software, feel free to contact me at tnowotny@ucsd.edu .