A simple and sensitive method for monitoring running-wheel movement

A running-wheel movement-detection method is described for use with a modified 1350 Commodore mouse and a Commodore 64, is described. The movement-detection method allows for the detection of partial revolutions and direction of movement, but requires no interface equipment. The modified running wheel is discussed as a new technique that may be useful for bridging empirical and theoretical differences between free-operant and discrete-trial runway procedures.     

A simple transmitter mount for short-term telemetric measurement of heart rate in the rat

This article describes a simple technique, not involving surgery, for mounting a small telemetry transmitter on a laboratory rat. The method is useful for collecting heart-rate data in studies of 2 or 3 days’ duration.     

A telemetric method for measuring and recording head rotations in human infants

A simple and reliable apparatus for recording directional head movements of infants is described. The technique permits unrestricted movement and avoids distress associated with mechanical head harnesses.     

A microcomputer-controlled system for measuring reactivity in small animals

A microcomputer-controlled system has been designed for measuring reactivity in small laboratory animals. This system uses a microcomputer to trigger an acoustic signal, which is fed to a loudspeaker through an audio power amplifier. An animal’s acoustic startle response is recorded using a moving-coil loudspeaker as a movement transducer. The transducer output is coupled to a peak-hold circuit that records the maximum voltage generated by the animal’s response. After conversion to digital form, the data for each stimulus presentation are stored and then printed when all trials have been completed.     

A telemetric device for measuring smoking topography

The Telemetric Topography Device (TTD) introduces new technology to the measurement of cigarette smoking topography that has advantages over existing instruments. It consists of a 90.8-g miniature vacuum transducer coupled to an FM transmitter contained within a 11/4-in.-diameter × 41/4-in. free-standing plastic cylinder. As a subject smokes through a modified commercial cigarette holder, the TTD transmits a tone proportional to the vacuum pressure change in the cylinder. Received tones are converted to voltage data and then digitized by an A/D board in a personal computer. This information can either be displayed and stored on line or recorded on audio tape and digitized during playback. The TTD has no visible electronic parts, thereby minimizing subjects’ awareness of monitoring.     

Technique for monitoring activity in free-moving animals

A techique is described for measuring activity by monitoring the rotational movements of a commutator. to which animals might be connected for other experimental purposes.     

A digital system for recording startle,responses in small animals

An easily constructed, isometric startle-recording system is described. The animal enclosure is attached to a plywood board-which, in ten, is mounted in a “springboard” arrangement. Movement is detected by a phonocartridge mounted beneath the chamber, and a digital record of this movement is obtained through the use of a voltage-to-frequency converter. A brief experiment in which the system was used to assess the rat’s reaction to electric footshock is also presented.     

A cheap telemetric system for analyzing gait.

This study presents a technique for gait analysis, developed for the assessment of footfall timing and speed. The system in question consists of a transmitter, a receiver, a conductive walkway and a PC with the appropriate software.The technique was first tested for accuracy and repeatability with known signals, and was validated with a group of 20 healthy male adults (mean age = 34 years, S.D. = 5.5). The results thus obtained were similar to those reported in the literature for corresponding groups. Then, measurements on 10 children suffering from cerebral palsy (spastic hemiplegia) were performed. Gait analysis was carried out just before surgery and one year post-operatively. The results confirm the validity of the technique for measurements on orthopedic patients and its efficiency for functional evaluation of gait improvement after surgery.     

A simple method for pairwise monotone regression

A simple method of monotone regression is described based on the principle of minimizing pairwise departures from monotonicity.     

A simple general method for oblique rotation

A simple and very general algorithm for oblique rotation is identified. While motivated by the rotation problem in factor analysis, it may be used to minimize almost any function of a not necessarily square matrix whose columns are restricted to have unit length. The algorithm has two steps. The first is to compute the gradient of the rotation criterion and the second is to project this onto a manifold of matrices with unit length columns. For this reason it is called a gradient projection algorithm. Because the projection step is very simple, implementation of the algorithm involves little more than computing the gradient of the rotation criterion which for many applications is very simple. It is proven that the algorithm is strictly monotone, that is as long as it is not already at a stationary point, each step will decrease the value of the criterion. Examples from a variety of areas are used to demonstrate the algorithm, including oblimin rotation, target rotation, simplimax rotation, and rotation to similarity and simplicity simultaneously. While it may be, the algorithm is not intended for use as a standard algorithm for well established problems, but rather as a tool for investigating new methods where its generality and simplicity may save an investigator substantial effort.The author would like to thank the review team for their insights and recommendations.     

A multiple-choice airstream design for olfactory discrimination training of small animals

A multiple wind-tunnel olfactory discrimination apparatus is described and evaluated. The apparatus allows for the simultaneous presentation of odor or visual cues and permits direct comparisons to be made on visual and olfactory discrimination performance.     

A simple encoding and recording system for small group observation

A simple and inexpensive system for coding and recording interaction patterns in small groups is described. It consists of a keyboard and a standard tape recorder, and it is capable of storing sequential data using up to 36 codes. Its main application is in the study of speaker-target patterns, but it can also be used in encoding up to 12 behavioral codes, or six speakers and 6 codes. The keyboard costs less than $200 and is used with conventional tape recorders and minicomputers available at most research sites.