diff --git a/pylearn2/train_extensions/live_monitoring.py b/pylearn2/train_extensions/live_monitoring.py
index ea4a6e15fd..2959edefce 100644
--- a/pylearn2/train_extensions/live_monitoring.py
+++ b/pylearn2/train_extensions/live_monitoring.py
@@ -2,25 +2,44 @@
 Training extension for allowing querying of monitoring values while an
 experiment executes.
 """
-__authors__ = "Dustin Webb"
+__authors__ = "Dustin Webb, Adam Stone"
 __copyright__ = "Copyright 2010-2012, Universite de Montreal"
-__credits__ = ["Dustin Webb"]
+__credits__ = ["Dustin Webb,  Adam Stone"]
 __license__ = "3-clause BSD"
 __maintainer__ = "LISA Lab"
 __email__ = "pylearn-dev@googlegroups"
 
 import copy
+import logging
+log = logging.getLogger('LiveMonitor')
 
 try:
     import zmq
     zmq_available = True
-except:
+except Exception:
     zmq_available = False
 
+try:
+    from PySide import QtCore, QtGui
+
+    import sys
+    import matplotlib
+    import numpy as np
+    matplotlib.use('Qt4Agg')
+    matplotlib.rcParams['backend.qt4'] = 'PySide'
+
+    from matplotlib.backends.backend_qt4agg import (
+        FigureCanvasQTAgg as FigureCanvas)
+    from matplotlib.figure import Figure
+
+    qt_available = True
+except Exception:
+    qt_available = False
+
 try:
     import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
     pyplot_available = True
-except:
+except Exception:
     pyplot_available = False
 
 from functools import wraps
@@ -345,7 +364,7 @@ def update_channels(self, channel_list, start=-1, end=-1, step=1):
                 chan.time_record += rsp_chan.time_record
                 chan.val_record += rsp_chan.val_record
 
-    def follow_channels(self, channel_list):
+    def follow_channels(self, channel_list, use_qt=False):
         """
         Tracks and plots a specified set of channels in real time.
 
@@ -353,21 +372,112 @@ def follow_channels(self, channel_list):
         ----------
         channel_list : list
             A list of the channels for which data has been requested.
+        use_qt : bool
+            Use a PySide GUI for plotting, if available.
         """
-        if not pyplot_available:
+        if use_qt:
+            if not qt_available:
+                log.warning(
+                    'follow_channels called with use_qt=True, but PySide '
+                    'is not available. Falling back on matplotlib ion().')
+            else:
+                # only create new qt app if running the first time in session
+                if not hasattr(self, 'gui'):
+                    self.gui = LiveMonitorGUI(self, channel_list)
+
+                self.gui.channel_list = channel_list
+                self.gui.start()
+
+        elif not pyplot_available:
             raise ImportError('pyplot needs to be installed for '
                               'this functionality.')
-        plt.clf()
-        plt.ion()
-        while True:
-            self.update_channel(channel_list)
+        else:
             plt.clf()
-            for channel_name in self.channels:
-                plt.plot(
-                    self.channels[channel_name].epoch_record,
-                    self.channels[channel_name].val_record,
-                    label=channel_name
-                )
-            plt.legend()
             plt.ion()
-            plt.draw()
+            while True:
+                self.update_channels(channel_list)
+                plt.clf()
+                for channel_name in self.channels:
+                    plt.plot(
+                        self.channels[channel_name].epoch_record,
+                        self.channels[channel_name].val_record,
+                        label=channel_name
+                    )
+                plt.legend()
+                plt.ion()
+                plt.draw()
+
+if qt_available:
+    class LiveMonitorGUI(QtGui.QMainWindow):
+        def __init__(self, lm, channel_list):
+            """
+            PySide GUI implementation for live monitoring channels.
+
+            Parameters
+            ----------
+            lm : LiveMonitor instance
+                The LiveMonitor instance to which the GUI belongs.
+
+            channel_list : list
+                A list of the channels to display.
+            """
+            self.app = QtGui.QApplication(sys.argv)
+
+            super(LiveMonitorGUI, self).__init__()
+            self.lm = lm
+            self.channel_list = channel_list
+            self.updaterThread = UpdaterThread(lm, channel_list)
+            self.updaterThread.updated.connect(self.refresh)
+            self.initUI()
+
+        def initUI(self):
+            self.resize(300, 200)
+            self.fig = Figure(figsize=(300, 200), dpi=72,
+                              facecolor=(1, 1, 1), edgecolor=(0, 0, 0))
+            self.ax = self.fig.add_subplot(111)
+            self.canvas = FigureCanvas(self.fig)
+            self.setCentralWidget(self.canvas)
+
+        def refresh(self):
+            self.ax.cla()  # clear previous plot
+            for channel_name in self.channel_list:
+
+                X = epoch_record = self.lm.channels[channel_name].epoch_record
+                Y = val_record = self.lm.channels[channel_name].val_record
+
+                indices = np.nonzero(np.diff(epoch_record))[0] + 1
+                epoch_record_split = np.split(epoch_record, indices)
+                val_record_split = np.split(val_record, indices)
+
+                X = np.zeros(len(epoch_record))
+                Y = np.zeros(len(epoch_record))
+
+                for i, epoch in enumerate(epoch_record_split):
+
+                    j = i*len(epoch_record_split[0])
+                    X[j: j + len(epoch)] = (
+                        1.*np.arange(len(epoch)) / len(epoch) + epoch[0])
+                    Y[j: j + len(epoch)] = val_record_split[i]
+
+                self.ax.plot(X, Y, label=channel_name)
+
+            self.ax.legend()
+            self.canvas.draw()
+            self.updaterThread.start()
+
+        def start(self):
+            self.show()
+            self.updaterThread.start()
+            self.app.exec_()
+
+    class UpdaterThread(QtCore.QThread):
+        updated = QtCore.Signal()
+
+        def __init__(self, lm, channel_list):
+            super(UpdaterThread, self).__init__()
+            self.lm = lm
+            self.channel_list = channel_list
+
+        def run(self):
+            self.lm.update_channels(self.channel_list)  # blocking
+            self.updated.emit()