A new algorithm for drift compensation in multi-unit recordings of action potentials in peripheral autonomic nerves over time.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Peripheral autonomic nerves control visceral organs and convey information regarding their functional states and are, therefore, potential targets for new therapeutic and diagnostic approaches. Conventionally recorded multi-unit nerve activity in vivo undergoes slow differential drift of signal and noise amplitudes, making accurate monitoring of nerve activity for more than tens of minutes problematic. NEW METHOD: We describe an on-line drift compensation algorithm that utilizes recursive least-squares to estimate the relative change in spike amplitude due to changes in the nerve-electrode interface over time. RESULTS: We tested and refined our approach using simulated data and i..