gradiometers, magnetometers, EEG), general position (e.g., right temporal channels), or simply by channel names. These convenience functions in MNE-Python are known as pick functions, and they start with pick_ (e.g., pick_types to select by channel type). Other standard data structures in MNE-Python handle forward operators, covariance matrices, independent components, and source estimates. These structures will be introduced below after explaining their role in the standard pipeline. Importantly, the API follows as much as possible the Python standard library and the widely spread NumPy package. It avoids the proliferation of classes and limits the use of complex inheritance mechanisms. This helps to keep the code simple, favoring new contributions.
