# MWorks and National Instruments I/O module?

**URL:** <https://mworks.discourse.group/t/mworks-and-national-instruments-i-o-module/1016>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [August 2, 2024, 6:31pm UTC](https://mworks.discourse.group/t/mworks-and-national-instruments-i-o-module/1016 "2024-08-02T18:31:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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**Author:** ![cstawarz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/mworks.discourse.group/cstawarz/32/3_2.png) [@cstawarz](https://mworks.discourse.group/u/cstawarz)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://mworks.discourse.group/t/mworks-and-national-instruments-i-o-module/1016/5 "2024-08-02T21:29:08Z")

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Hi Yasmine,

> My understanding is that most neuropixels setups collect non-neural data (trial event codes, etc) on a National Instruments IO module - but I somehow remember that this is not compatible with MWorks. Is that correct?

As far as I understand, at present, Neuropixels probes must be used with the [Neuropixels PXIe card](https://www.neuropixels.org/system1-0), which in turn needs to be installed in an [NI PXI chassis](https://www.ni.com/en/shop/pxi.html). This poses two obstacles to using Neuropixels with MWorks:

1. NI no longer supports their driver software for macOS, but even when they did, PXI support wasn’t included.
2. The drivers needed to communicate with Neuropixels are only available for Windows.

There’s a bit more info in [this discussion](https://mworks.discourse.group/t/mworks-and-neuropixels/170/2), but the upshot is that, currently, there’s no way for MWorks to communicate directly with a Neuropixels system.

It’ll be interesting to see what the requirements are for the (not yet available?) Neuropixels OneBox. That does _not_ require a PXI chassis, but it’s possible that it will still rely on Windows-only drivers.

> As you know, we currently send all non-neural data from MWorks to Blackrock. So I could imagine that the easiest way forward might be to continue to do exactly that, while also sending some sync signal to the National Instruments I/O module?

I’m not 100% clear on what comprises a complete Neuropixels setup. I think you need a Windows PC running NI software to control the PXI chassis and collect the data, although I’m not sure. But as long as the system includes some general-purpose digital input lines, I think what you suggest will work.

> Do you happen to know any labs (maybe Mehrdad’s?) who are using MWorks to run experiments with neuropixels?

Sorry, I don’t.

FYI, I’m going to be on vacation for the next two weeks. If you need further assistance with this, I can help you when I return.

Cheers,  
Chris

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