Dataset

Allen Visual Behavior Neuropixels

Open NWB-format electrophysiology and behavioral dataset from mice performing the Allen visual change-detection task, with active behavior, passive replay, receptive-field mapping, and optotagging epochs.

Access notes

Use AllenSDK's VisualBehaviorNeuropixelsProjectCache for normal access; the DANDI record is an archival cloud release and the Allen portal provides task and whitepaper documentation. The behavtaskatlas MVP adapter reads a local VBN NWB /intervals/trials table directly via h5py and treats it as the active visual change-detection behavior slice; neural and video side tables remain deferred.

Data formats

  • Neurodata Without Borders (NWB)
  • AllenSDK project cache
  • DANDI archive assets

Expected trial-table mapping

Canonical fields the harmonizer expects this dataset to populate.

Canonical field Source mapping
choice Lick in response window mapped to go; withheld lick mapped to withhold.
correct Trial outcome mapped from hit, miss, false alarm, or correct rejection.
evidence_strength Not a scalar; derive d-prime or hit-rate summaries by image pair.
feedback Reward on hits; no reward on misses, false alarms, and correct rejections unless source marks otherwise.
response_time First lick latency relative to change time where available.
session_id Allen ecephys or behavior session identifier.
stimulus_side none; visual images are centrally presented rather than lateralized.
stimulus_value Categorical image-change indicator or image-pair code.
subject_id Mouse identifier from session metadata.
task_variables image set, pre-change image, change image, omitted flashes, active/passive epoch, novelty exposure, optotagging context, lick times, and reward times.
trial_index Trial index from the active behavior trials table.

Caveats

  • The archive is large; adapters should stream or cache per-session NWB assets rather than assume full local download.
  • The current MVP adapter covers active behavior trials only and does not yet join spike, LFP, probe, channel, optotagging, passive-replay, receptive-field, or video tables.