A system for programming experiments and for recording and analyzing data automatically

A system designed for use in complex operant conditioning experiments is described. Some of its key features are: (a) plugboards that permit the experimenter to change either from one program to another or from one analysis to another in less than a minute, (b) time-sharing of permanently-wired, electronic logic components, (c) recordings suitable for automatic analyses. Included are flow diagrams of the system and sample logic diagrams for programming experiments and for analyzing data.     

A system for automatically analyzing and correcting real-time experiment control programs

A system is described that automatically analyzes the time constraints in a real-time experiment control program and automatically makes corrections to that program to provide any degree of temporal accuracy desired by the experimenter within the capabilities of the hardware. A generalized procedure is presented to allow similar systems to be developed for most common languages and hardware platforms.     

A computer system for processing eye-movement records

A computer system using the LINC-8 computer was developed to process eye-movement records from two 16-mm cine film input sources : the Mackworth stand camera and the Mackworth wide-angle camera. Data reduction was accomplished by projecting the films onto an X-Y plotting table. An operator marked, using a cursor, either the eyespot, in the case of the stand camera, or the pupil and display center, in the case of the wide-angle camera, in order to digitize the locus of the gaze. This information was normalized and stored on magnetic tape as: ordinal fixation number, fixation duration, and fixation coordinates (X and Y). A software library was created to analyze the three eye-movement measures. One program calculates interfixation distance, fixation time, and dispersion of fixations about a point. A second program operates on data matrices to: calculate area covered by a fixation pattern, frequency of redundant fixations in a fixation pattern, and distribution of fixations over features of the visual display. Data are displayed on either scope or the Calcomp plotter.     

Using a stimulus correlated with reprimands to suppress automatically maintained eye poking

A functional analysis indicated that chronic eye poking exhibited by a woman with profound mental retardation persisted in the absence of social contingencies. We initiated a procedure in which a therapist delivered a punisher (mild reprimand) contingent on eye poking in the presence, but not the absence, of a neutral stimulus (wristbands). Subsequently, eye poking was suppressed when the participant wore the wristbands in novel environments without the reprimand contingency.     

A system for computer control of auditory stimuli

A computer system for generation of auditory stimuli is described. The system produces natural-speech or software-generated stimuli for monaural, binaural, or dichotic presentation. Stimuli have been generated for experiments run both on-line and off-line.     

A semiautomatic system for preparing computer data cards

A system is described which eliminates manual coding and punching of computer data cards in a psychophysical experiment. Conventional relay logic is used to control the operation of a card punch and to enter data in selected card columns.     

A user-interactive graphics-based computer system for analysis of the EEG

Computer technology provides a powerful high-resolution tool for the analysis and understanding of the electroencephalogram (EEG). A system of user-interactive graphics-based computer programs analyzing the power spectral density (PSD), coherence, and phase-angle relationships of the EEG is described, along with the mathematical algorithms used. The analytic variables inherent in coherence analysis are reviewed. These variables include choices of sampling parameters, auto- and cross-spectral algorithms, smoothing techniques, and use of the γ²(f) or γ(f) value for coherence. These variables in the analysis itself have a net interactive effect on the calculated results that often makes comparability of data across studies impossible. Thus, it is proposed that studies include a graph showing the authors’ derived coherence values for a set of standard test signals to enhance scientific communication.     

Words: A computer system for the analysis of content

WORDS is a computer-oriented system for content analysis designed to elicit major content themes without recourse to a priori categorization systems. The system consists of a number of modular and independent programs that the user can configure in any fashion to process the data to be analyzed. This paper presents current information on WORDS, WORDS programs, WORDS systems logic, and on the availability of the system.     

Increasing item engagement and decreasing automatically reinforced problem behavior within a modified competing stimulus assessment

A competing stimulus assessment (CSA) is commonly used to identify leisure items for use in treatments designed to decrease automatically reinforced problem behavior. However, this type of assessment may not yield useful information if participants do not readily engage with leisure items. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a modified CSA that included additional treatment components (i.e., prompting, prompting plus differential reinforcement of alternative behavior). The modified CSA identified the treatment components and leisure items that were most effective for increasing leisure-item engagement and decreasing problem behavior for each participant. Modified CSA outcomes maintained during an extended treatment analysis in a natural setting and when intervention components were faded.     

Response competition and stimulus preference in the treatment of automatically reinforced behavior: a comparison

Clinicians are particularly challenged by the development of interventions for behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement because reinforcers that maintain the responses often cannot be directly observed or manipulated. Researchers have conducted either preference assessments or competing items assessments when developing effective treatments for behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement. However, interventions based on these assessments have not been directly compared. The current study evaluated procedures to make such a comparison. High-competition items resulted in greater reductions in vocal stereotypy than did high-preference items for a preschool boy with autism.     

An objective automated method for digitizing pictorial material for computer manipulation

An inexpensive device to digitize existing pictorial material in conjunction with a digital computer is described. Slides (35-mm) are used as source material, and the slide is scanned to produce a two-level output (i.e., dot present or dot absent). The system has spatial resolution of approximately 1 mm and a complete scan (30 times 19 points) is completed in about 20 sec. Although we are using the system to produce only two level outputs, there is no reason a gray scale could not be constructed.     

Extendable high-speed stimulus generation and recording on the Macintosh computer

A new visual electrophysiology and eye-movement laboratory was developed with three goals in mind: (1) rapid execution speed for quick acquisition of data from infant subjects, (2) ease of operation by experimenters, and (3) modularity and flexibility. A powerful system composed of two linked Macintosh computers was constructed in which one computer was used solely to generate visual stimuli and the second solely to record subjects’ responses, allowing recording to execute at maximum speed without being slowed by stimulus graphics generation. A single program on the recording computer allowed the experimenter to choose the stimulus and recording parameters. The two computers intercommunicated via a local EtherNet network to coordinate recording and signal averaging. This paper presents design principles and specific programming techniques relevant to any Macintosh system that must rapidly acquire physiological recordings while simultaneously displaying sensory stimuli.     

A 6809 single-board computer system for the control of behavioral experiments

A computer system consisting of a 6809 single-board computer in conjunction with an IBM-compatible Personal Computer (PC) is described for the control of behavioral experiments. The single-board computer uses the C programming language to program experimental events. Each component of the system (the single-board computer, a digital interface, the PC, and the software) is outlined with its capabilities and drawbacks noted.     

A general-purpose computer system for behavioral conditioning and neural recording experiments

A computer system designed to control the delivery of stimuli and data acquisition during behavioral conditioning and neural recording experiments is described. This IBM-PC-compatible system is programmed in C++ and is capable of controlling stimulus presentations to four independently operating conditioning chambers while collecting one channel of analog and two channels of digital data from each of the chambers. This system is currently being used in a variety of learning and memory experiments involving rats, rabbits, and humans.     

ARTIST: A computer system for creating and running psychology experiments

A flexible computer system for research and teaching experiments in psychology is described. Special features of the system include (1) separate phases for the generation and running of experiments, (2) facilities to control presentation of stimuli according to any factorial design, and (3) different modes of operation depending on the prior knowledge of the users. The system is evaluated both in terms of the range of experiments that can be performed and in terms of the time and effort required to create new experiments or modify old ones. General principles for designing interactive systems are discussed in the light of experiences with this particular system.