Dynamic clamping

The Signal application is well known for its extensive Patch and Voltage clamp recording and analysis capabilities. From Signal version 5 we implement extensive dynamic clamp support to augment this flexible program. Used in conjunction with the CED Power1401-3A, -3, mk II or the Micro-4 and your existing current-clamp amplifier, no special hardware is required.

Signal includes a fully integrated, easily configurable, high-performance dynamic clamping system. This advanced feature makes the technique readily available to researchers who do not have access to complex customised hardware and software, by providing a professionally designed, maintained and supported package that is usable by all, at a low cost.

In the dynamic clamp technique¹, a typically nonlinear feedback system delivers current to a cell to represent the actions of virtual ion channels, allowing ion channels or synapses to be simulated or the actions of existing channels to be cancelled².

¹ Sharp AA, O'Neil MB, Abbott LF, Marder E (1993) Dynamic Clamp: Computer-Generated Conductances in Real Neurons. J Neurophysiol 69: 992-995 †

² Prinz AA, Abbot LF and Marder E. The dynamic clamp comes of age. Trends Neurosci. 2004 Apr;27(4):218-24 †

† These references to published papers are provided for information purposes only and in no way imply any endorsement of CED products by the authors. Windows® is a registered trademark.