Dataset for the study "Optimal inter-electrode distances for maximizing single unit yield per electrode in neural recordings"

Although significant efforts have been dedicated to enhancing neural recording devices and developing more efficient sorting algorithms, there has been relatively less focus on the allocation of microelectrodes—a factor that undeniably affects spike sorting effectiveness and ultimately the total number of detected neurons.

Here, we systematically examined the relationship between optimal electrode spacing and spike sorting efficiency by creating virtual sparser layouts from high-density recordings through spatial downsampling. We assessed spike sorting performance by comparing the quantity of well-isolated single units per electrode in sparse configurations across various brain regions (neocortex and thalamus), species (rat, mouse, and human) and various spike-sorting algorithms.