odml - terminologies

Terminologies

Though we want to make as little restrictions as possible the automatic handling of metadata, especially after some years have past or when it comes to sharing the data with collaborators, some conventions on the terms used are not only convenient but rather a prerequisite.

For this purpose we define so called terminologies which contain names and definitions of metadata items that should be used, if appropriate.

The terminologies are also under development. Once we are ready for a version 1 release we will make only minor corrections to existing properties or may add new properties. Existing properties, however, will not be removed or altered in their definitions in this version.

How to use:

The terminologies (see below) generally define the names of properties not their content. In very few cases we also define "values". This is mainly the case if the occurence of a certain property value requires more properties for further specification. One example for this would be the switching frequency on an amplifier used in an electrophysiological experiment. This property is only meaningful if the amplifier was used in in a discontinuous operation mode.

• Please understand these names as suggestions!
• Thus, if you find a property definition fitting your needs please use it.
• Otherwise simply create your own properties.
• These may not be recognized by other tools but your metadatum is stored!
• If you further find that the just created property is of general interest please provide a definition and do not hesitate to send it to us. We would be happy to include it.

So far defined terminologies

Pre version 1 terminologies can be found here:

1. Analysis

   • Analysis
     - General properties to describe analyses.
   • PSTH
     - To describe Peri-Stimulus-Time-Histograms.
2. Cell
   Properties to describe a cell.
   

3. Collections
   - Empty sections that can be used to group subsections.

   • EventList
     - To group events.
     
   • HardwareProperties
     - To group "Hardware" sections that describe static properties of Hardware items.
     
   • HardwareSettings
     To group "Hardware" sections that describe the actual hardware settings as used in a recording.
     
4. Dataset
   
5. Event
   
6. Electrode
   

7. Experiment

   • Experiment
     
   • Behavior
     
   • Electrophysiology
     
   • Imaging
     
   • Modeling
     
   • Psychophysics
     

8. Hardware

   • Amplifier
     
   • Attenuator
     
   • Camera objective
     
   • Data acquisition
     
   • Eyetracker
     
   • Filter
     
   • Filter set
     
   • Hardware
     
   • Image acquisition
     
   • Lightsource
     
   • Microscope
     
   • Microscope ojective
     
   • Scanner
     
   • Stimulus isolator
     
9. Person
   
10. Preparation
    
11. Recording
    
12. Setup
    

13. Stimulus

    • Stimulus

      Some global definitions of the applied stimulus. This section is parent to various subsections that further specify the applied stimulus.

    • DC
      
    • Gabor
      
    • Grating
      
    • Pulse
      
    • Movie
      
    • Ramp
      
    • Random dot
      
    • Sawtooth
      
    • Sine wave
      
    • Square wave
      
    • White noise
      
14. Subject
    
15. Carmen mini

    This is a convenience section that lists the terms of the CARMEN MINI (Gibson et al. Nature Precedings, 2009 Version 0.6) and maps them to the odml "standard" terminologies.

We would be happy to receive feedback, critique or suggestions.