Spiking variability: Theory, measures and implementation in Matlab

The quantification of spiking variability is prevalent to many questions in neuroscience. In this review, several measures of variability are presented, as well as algorithms for implementing analyses including: spike rates and Fano factor, inter-spike intervals, coefficient of variation and local variation, autocorrelation, period histograms, a synchrony index (vector strength), and finally post-stimulus time histograms. Some of the techniques show significant overlap; however, each measure is qualitatively unique and can be tuned to the researchers needs.

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