Biology subjects

Yekani, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Yekani, M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Exploring the functionality of market-available tools for neural recording

Low-cost and open-source neural recording systems are increasingly important for expanding access to electrophysiological research. However, many existing platforms still rely on specialized hardware or limited modularity, restricting flexibility for laboratories seeking customizable solutions. Here, we developed and evaluated a modular neural recording platform constructed entirely from commercially available components. Recordings were compared against the ground truth. The platform successfully recovered local field potential (LFP)-like waveforms in most conditions and detected spike-like activity during direct connection recordings. Principal component analysis and k-means clustering further demonstrated the ability to distinguish multiple simulated spike waveforms. Signal quality varied across configurations, with saline recordings and preamplifier integration introducing increased noise and reduced detectability. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of building affordable and modular electrophysiology systems using widely accessible hardware. Although the current implementation has limitations in sampling rate, noise performance, and in vivo validation, the presented framework provides a practical foundation for future customizable open-source neural recording.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

Controllable Point-Light Displays Implemented in a game engine for biological motion research

Biological motion perception plays a critical role in survival and social communication across species. Point-light displays (PLDs), which represent body movement using only a small set of joint markers, have long served as an effective tool for isolating motion cues from other visual features. However, existing methods for generating PLDs, ranging from filmed actors with reflective markers to markerless motion extraction and motion-capture datasets, present limitations in cost, accessibility, flexibility, or ecological validity. In particular, many laboratories lack the resources to create customizable stimuli that allow systematic manipulation of movement parameters. In this article, we introduce a practical and easily modifiable method for producing fully controllable 3D PLDs using freely available animation rigs and the Unity game engine. Our approach enables real-time control of depth cues and directional motion without the need for motion capture equipment or specialized filming environments. To demonstrate the utility of the method, we conducted a psychophysical experiment comparing the perception of biological and non-biological motion. The results replicate the well-documented forward-motion perceptual bias for biological stimuli and highlight differences in how observers interpret motion direction across stimulus classes. This method offers a convenient, accessible, and adaptable tool for research on motion perception and social cognition.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

An affordable solution for investigating zebra finch intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) signals

The zebra finch is a well-studied animal model for investigating the neural mechanisms of vocal learning, and electrophysiology is the primary technique for understanding their song system. Most of the studies on zebra finches have focused on intracerebral recordings. However, these methods are only affordable for limited laboratories. Recently, different open-source hardware for acquiring electroencephalography (EEG) signals has been developed. Its unclear whether these solutions suit zebra finch studies as they have not been evaluated. Electrocorticography signals can provide a preliminary guide for more in-depth inquiries and also aid in understanding the global behavior of the birds brain, as opposed to the more common localized approach. We present a detailed protocol for acquiring intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) data from zebra finches using the OpenBCI Cyton board, an open-source device. We implemented stainless steel electrodes on the brains surface and recorded the brain signals from two recording sites above two auditory-responsive nuclei. To validate our method, we ran two different experiments. In the first experiment, we recorded neural activity under various concentrations of isoflurane and extracted the suppression duration to measure anesthesia depth. In the second experiment, we head-fixed the birds and, under light anesthesia, presented them with various auditory stimuli to evaluate event-related potentials (ERP) and generate spectrograms. The results showed a significant increase in suppression duration with deeper anesthesia, and the ERP and spectrogram responses to auditory stimuli differed accordingly. These findings indicate that using our methodology, one can successfully collect iEEG signals from zebra finches. These findings pave the way for future studies to use iEEG to investigate bird cognition in a more affordable way.

animal behavior and cognition↗