The PD programs: a method for the quantitative description of motor patterns.

We describe a family of 6 computer programs that measure, analyse and create graphic displays of complex motor patterns. The programs create lists of times at which successive bursts of impulses in different nerves started and stopped, and use these lists to calculate the periods and durations of these bursts and to calculate their phases relative to some specified frame of reference. When calculating phases, the programs take into account missing bursts or extra bursts in each reference interval. Individual programs then calculate descriptive statistics for these parameters, select lists of paired data for plotting and regression analysis, and prepare files for graphical display of statistics as boxplots. A final-program plots these files on a digital plotter. These programs are available for non-commercial use.