A microcomputer system for controlling classical conditioning experiments

A microcomputer-based laboratory system for controlling stimulus presentations and data acquisition in classical conditioning experiments is described. The system comprises an Intel 386/486-based microcomputer and a commercially obtained low-cost counter/timer board with input/output lines for stimulus timing and external device control. A simple, yet versatile custom-designed structured programming language is provided for performing an unlimited number of stimulus configurations and their sequences. In electrophysiological studies, the system can be flexibly connected to computer-controlled signal conditioning systems for the amplification and filtering of multiunit and evoked field potential responses and to high-speed data acquisition systems for sampling and analyzing the responses. The costs of reserving an entire microcomputer for experiment control are well compensated for by the simplicity and efficiency of programming and transportability of the control protocols between different setups and laboratories. Furthermore, a data acquisition and analysis system most suitable for the aims of a research project can be selected.     

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.     

A satellite system for controlling real-time experiments

In this paper, we describe a computer system for controlling real-time psychology experiments. We begin by considering the kinds of experiments that are performed in our laboratory and examining the hardware and software requirements of these experiments. We then review various systems along a continuum ranging from general-purpose timesharing systems to stand-alone dedicated processors. The capabilities of these systems are described in comparison with our requirements. The features of the PARASITE-FS system are then described. This host-satellite system includes a local file system and monitor program, real-time device drivers with flexible interrupt processing capabilities, user-level routines for controlling the real-time devices, and a package for controlling the timing of experimental events.     

Controlling experiments with a general-purpose time-sharing system

For many experiments in the behavioral and biomedical sciences, there is no substitute for an experimental-control computer with true real-time capabilities. However, if an experimenter can tolerate timing errors of several seconds, then he can reap the benefits of computer control by buying time on a general-purpose time-sharing system. There can be little doubt that a self-contained computer-controlled laboratory will be more economical if a fair number of experiments are contemplated. But when only a few experiments are planned, the researcher may find that he can run them with a general-purpose time-sharing system at only a fraction of the cost of establishing a     

A microcomputer interface for control of real-time experiments in cognitive psychology

A microcomputer system for real-time control of experiments in cognitive psychology is described. The microcomputer serves as an interface that allows a remote timesharing computer to control the timed display of textual material on CRTs and collect response times accurate to 1 msec. It can control two CRT subject stations presenting the same or different experiments and control other devices such as slide projectors and tape recorders. It is argued that such special-purpose microcomputer interfaces provide a real-time laboratory with significantly less effort than does the more traditional laboratory minicomputer.     

Programming experiments on a TERAK 8510/A microcomputer

In the course of bringing up one’s first experimental microcomputer system, certain standard problems occur that are trivial to the experienced programmer but are great blocks to the novice. In this spirit, some paradigms that were implemented on a TERAK 8510/a microcomputer, and the related problems, are described. Specific topics include some consideration of timing procedures for reaction time experiments and how to handle large text files on small floppy disk systems.     

A multiprocessor system for generating visual displays and controlling experiments

A laboratory is described that is based on an IMSAI 8080 microcomputer and an IMLAC graphics display system. Procedures for using the system are described and illustrated.     

A general-purpose facility for adaptive testing in psychoacoustics

We describe a general-purpose, programmable system that provides high-quality, low-cost devices for experimentation in psychoacoustics and speech perception. The system is controlled by a host computer (e.g., an IBM PC), over a serial line. Through the use of a high-level, general-purpose experiment control program, the designed interconnection of devices can be specified logically, and the settings of the devices modified dynamically, during the experiment.     

Computer production of punched paper tapes for controlling experiments

Controlling experiments with paper-tape readers often requires the production of complex paper tapes. A program was written to allow automatic production and checking of complex punched paper tapes using a small computer. The user first defines the punches or punch sets to be used. He then specifies, for each successive block of tape to be punched, the number of punch sets of each type to occur and whether those punch sets should be copied in order or automatically randomized. The specified tape is then produced using a two-pass procedure, after which the tape may be automatically checked for punching errors if desired. The program has facilities for retention or modification of user commands from previous runs, simplifying the production of a large number of tapes with similar characteristics.     

EyeRIS: A general-purpose system for eye-movement-contingent display control

In experimental studies of visual performance, the need often emerges to modify the stimulus according to the eye movements performed by the subject. The eye-movement-contingent display (EMCD) methodology enables accurate control of the position and motion of the stimulus on the retina. EMCD procedures have been used successfully in many areas of vision science, including studies of visual attention or eye movements and physiological characterization of neuronal response properties. Unfortunately, the difficulty of real-time programming and the unavailability of flexible and economical systems that can be easily adapted to the diversity of experimental needs and laboratory setups have prevented the widespread use of EMCD control. This article describes EyeRIS, a general-purpose system for performing EMCD experiments on a Windows computer. Based on a digital signal processor with analog and digital interfaces, this integrated hardware and software system is responsible for sampling and processing oculomotor signals and subject responses and for modifying the stimulus displayed on a CRT according to a gaze-contingent procedure specified by the experimenter. EyeRIS is designed to update the stimulus with a delay of only 10 msec. To thoroughly evaluate EyeRIS's performance, this study was designed to (1) examine the response of the system in a number of EMCD procedures and computational benchmarking tests; (2) compare the accuracy of implementation of one particular EMCD procedure, retinal stabilization, with that produced by a standard tool used for this task; and (3) examine EyeRIS's performance in one of the many EMCD procedures that cannot be executed by means of any other currently available device.     

A microcomputer system for temperature biotelemetry

A microcomputer (Apple II) system for recording body temperature measured by a commercially made, implantable biotelemetry device (Mini-Mitter) is described. The system includes an inexpensive radio receiver interface circuit and software written in BASIC and 6502 assembly language. The utility of the system is illustrated in a study that shows that various handling procedures (including that normally involved in rectal temperature measurement) elevate body temperature in rats.     

A self-contained microcomputer system for psychological testing

This paper describes a newly available microcomputer system for the on-line administration, scoring, and interpretation of psychological tests. User response to the system is reported. Results of a validity study of the system’s Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory interpretative program are presented.