Doric NC500 Neuroscience Data Acquisition System

Doric Neuroscience Console 500: A Professional Choice for Multimodal Neuroscience Data Acquisition

In neuroscience research, synchronously collecting multidimensional data such as fiber optic photometric signals, electrophysiological data, behavioral events, and optogenetic control is the key to analyzing the function of neural circuits. The Doric Neuroscience Console 500 (NC500) has emerged - this new generation of data acquisition hardware, with its high-resolution, multi port parallel, and low-noise design, has become the central device for laboratory multimodal recording.

System Overview

NC500 is a major upgraded product of Doric after Fiber Photometry Console. It is designed specifically for research scenarios that require managing multiple data sources simultaneously, and with the new version of Doric Neuroscience Studio software, data collection, visualization, and synchronization control can be completed in an intuitive interface.

The core functions of the device include:

High resolution analog voltage acquisition, preset lock-in amplification and time interleaved detection modes, suitable for multi-color and multi-point fiber optic photometry measurement.

Support direct connection of Doric micro fluorescence microscope (third-generation).

Supports Doric electrophysiological recording (connected to a tethered digital headstage via HDMI interface).

Multi channel digital input/output (TTL), used for closed-loop experiments with external devices such as behavioral cameras, operation conditioning boxes, video tracking software, and optogenetic light sources.

Rich port configuration

NC500 provides multiple dedicated ports that can be used independently or in combination to meet flexible requirements from single modal to multimodal:

Dedicated interface:

1 HDMI interface (front): used for Doric third-generation miniature fluorescence microscope.

2 HDMI ports (1 on the front and 1 on the back): used for Doric electrophysiological digital headset.

Universal Analog/Digital Interface:

8 analog outputs (BNC, 0-5V, 16 bits, up to 10kHz)

8 analog inputs (BNC, ± 10V, 18 bits, up to 50kSps, with chopper mode to reduce noise)

8 digital I/O (BNC, configurable input/output)

1 DB25 interface (including: 8 configurable I/O+8 dedicated inputs+8 dedicated outputs), comes with a DB25 adapter DNC-BKB.

The front of the device is also equipped with a power switch and multiple LED status indicators (for power, software connection, microscope initialization, electrophysiological initialization), while the back is equipped with USB 3.0 (for connecting to a computer), USB auxiliary port, and 12V power input.

Detailed explanation of DNC-BKB adapter

DNC-BKB is a solder free terminal block designed specifically for the DB25 interface of NC500, which can easily connect up to 24 digital signals:

8-channel configurable I/O (optional input or output)

8-channel dedicated input

8 dedicated outputs

Users only need to press the white lever with a screwdriver, insert the bare wire end, and release the lever to complete the connection. The board clearly indicates the positions of signal and grounding ports, greatly simplifying the production process of customized cables.

Excellent analog input performance

The analog input channel of NC500 adopts 18 bit resolution with an input range of ± 10V. The built-in chopping mode can significantly reduce offset errors and noise. The following table shows the measured performance at different data rates (with chopper mode on):

Data rate, true rate, time resolution -3dB frequency, RMS noise, effective resolution

0.3 kSps 372 Hz 2686 μs 200 Hz 9.6 μV 20.0 bits

1.0 kSps 1001 Hz 999 μs 520 Hz 15.5 μV 19.3 bits

2.5 kSps 2534 Hz 395 μs 1300 Hz 26.1 μV 18.5 bits

6.0 kSps 6041 Hz 166 μs 3100 Hz 46.0 μV 17.7 bits

12 kSps 12166 Hz 82 μs 6300 Hz 120 μV 16.3 bits

Key advantage: Even at a maximum sampling rate of 12 kSps, it can maintain an effective resolution of 16.3 bits; In low data rate mode, the effective resolution can reach 20 bits, which is better than traditional 16 bit systems. In locked zoom mode, the effective resolution is further improved.

The maximum sampling rate of the digital I/O port is 50 kSps, and the maximum output frequency is 20 kHz, which is sufficient to meet the needs of most behavioral events and optogenetic triggering.

Quick connection and software integration

According to the recommended order, users can easily complete system deployment:

Install Doric Neuroscience Studio software (requires Windows 10 64 bit, 8GB RAM, recommended 16GB, 3GHz 8-core processor, SSD hard drive).

Connect the NC500 to the computer using the included USB 3.0 cable and connect it to a 12V power supply.

Connect microscopes, electrophysiological headsets, and external devices (TTL/analog signals) as needed.

Start the software and begin collecting data.

The plug and play feature of NC500 is highly integrated with software, significantly reducing the preparation time for experiments.

Environmental and Physical Specifications

Working/storage temperature: 0-40 ° C

Humidity: 40-60% RH (without condensation)

Size: 115 × 50 × 400 mm (compact, can be placed on standard equipment racks)

Computer interface: USB 3.0 (cable included)

Maintenance and Quality Assurance

NC500 is designed for sealing and does not require user maintenance. The product comes with a 12-month warranty (excluding non-human damage or unauthorized operation). Waste must comply with the WEEE directive and must not be mixed with ordinary garbage. Technical support can be reached by phone or email from Doric Lenses (Canada).

Typical application scenarios

Fiber optic photometry measurement: multi-color and multi probe synchronous recording of calcium signals or neurotransmitter dynamics.

Microscopic imaging: Calcium imaging of single neurons in freely moving animals.

Electrophysiological joint recording: Simultaneously collect local field potential (LFP) or peak potential (spike).

Closed loop behavior: Triggering optogenetic stimuli or reward pumps through TTL, based on real-time neural signal decision-making.