Re: [matplotlib-devel] New plot type idea -- EventRaster

[Todd <tod...@gm...>]

On Mon, Sep 24, 2012 at 3:33 PM, Todd <tod...@gm...> wrote:

> I would like to add a new plot type to matplotlib.  Of course I am willing
> to implement it myself, but I want to confirm that it is acceptable and
> iron out the implementation details and API first so there are no major
> surprises when I submit it.
>
> I tentatively am calling the plot type an "EventRaster" plot (name
> suggestions, along with any other suggestions, are welcome).  The plot is
> made up if horizontal rows of identical vertical lines and/or markers.
> Each line or marker represents a discrete event, and each row represents a
> single sequence of events (such as a trial).  The x-axis position of the
> line or marker identifies the location of the event by some measure.  An
> example of what such a plot often looks like is below.
>
> http://hebb.mit.edu/courses/9.29/2003/athena/dylanh/quad-rast.gif
>
> This sort of plot is used ubiquitously in neuroscience.  It is used to
> show the time of discrete neural (brain cell) events (called "spikes") over
> time in repeated trials, and is generally called a spike raster, raster
> plot, or raster graph.  However, it can be used in any situation where you
> are only concerned with the position of events but not their amplitude,
> especially if you want to look for patterns in those events or look for
> differences between multiple sequences of events.
>
> Plotting the timing of events is an obvious use case, such as photons
> hitting photodetectors, radioactive decay events, arrival of patients to
> hospitals, calls to hotlines, or car accidents in cities.  However, the
> events do not have to be relative to time.  It could be position, for
> example, such as tree rings along bore holes, road crossings along railroad
> tracks, layers in sediment cores, or particular sequences along a DNA
> strands.
>
> I'll cover possible implementation details in the next email if everyone
> thinks this is a good idea.
>

So does anyone think this would be a useful plot type?  If so I can explain
how I plan to implement it and we can discuss changes or improvements to
that.