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Documentation

Welcome to Backyard Brains​

Neuroscience should not be locked away in advanced laboratories. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to hear neurons fire, watch muscles produce electricity, record signals from plants, and discover how the nervous system works.

Backyard Brains creates affordable, hands-on tools that make these experiences possible. Our devices are used by educators, students, researchers, hobbyists, and curious experimenters around the world to explore real biology through experiments they can perform themselves.

This documentation will help you set up your equipment, connect it to our software, record biological signals, troubleshoot problems, and explore the science behind each experiment. Whether you are introducing neuroscience in a classroom or beginning your own investigation, you will find the instructions and resources you need here.

Feel confident exploring and experimenting, we're here to support your scientific curiosity every step of the way.

Start Here​

  1. Choose your device.
  2. Install Spike Recorder on your computer, phone, or tablet.
  3. Follow the setup instructions on your device's documentation page.
  4. Run an experiment and observe real biological signals.
  5. If something is not working, visit the Spike Recorder Troubleshooting Guide.

Choose Your Device​

Human Physiology​

Record and explore electrical signals produced by muscles, the heart, the brain, and the eyes.

Invertebrate Physiology​

Listen to and record action potentials from living neurons while exploring how nervous systems sense and respond to the world.

Plant Physiology​

Discover how plants use electrical signals to sense their environment, communicate, and respond to stimulation.

Neuroengineering​

Use biological signals and neural circuits to control machines, build interfaces, and create your own neuroscience projects.

Spike Recorder Software​

Spike Recorder brings the signals from your Backyard Brains device to life. Use it to view, record, save, and analyze electrical activity from muscles, the heart, the brain, neurons, and plants.

Explore the Experiments​

Our devices are designed to do more than display signals. They help learners ask questions, test ideas, and experience the excitement of scientific discovery.

Record the electrical activity of your muscles. Measure your reaction time. Listen to neurons firing. Observe a Venus flytrap generate an action potential. Build a brain-machine interface or design a neural circuit that controls a robot.

Each experiment begins with a question. What will you discover?

How your Brain Works​

Cover of the How the Brain Works experiment guide

Our book, How your Brain Works, brings our experiments together in one guided collection. It combines practical activities with the scientific background needed to understand what you are recording and why it matters.

It is an excellent companion for classrooms, workshops, science fairs, and independent exploration.

Troubleshooting​

Science does not always work perfectly on the first attempt—and that is part of the process.

If you are experiencing connection problems, noisy recordings, missing signals, or software errors:

  • Visit the Spike Recorder Troubleshooting Guide.
  • Check the Troubleshooting section on your device's documentation page.
  • Confirm that your device is powered on and that you are using a data-capable cable.
  • Make sure Spike Recorder is using the correct input or device channel.

If the problem continues, contact the Backyard Brains support team. We are happy to help you get your experiment working.

Safety and Policies​

Review the safety instructions on your device's page before beginning an experiment.

Support​

Have a question, need help with an experiment, or want to share what you discovered?

  • Email: hello@backyardbrains.com
  • Phone: +1 (855) GET-SPIKES (855-438-7745)
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET

We hope you find this documentation helpful in your scientific explorations and educational efforts.