Abstract
In the last chapter, we reviewed methods and techniques that we have found useful for controlling the delivery of stimuli during behavioral neuroscience experiments. As we pointed out in Chapter 2, typically the major reason for presenting stimuli to subjects in an experiment is to elicit behavioral responses that are under observation. Indeed, normally the primary goal of behavioral neuroscience experiments is to study changes in behavior that occur due to a manipulation of the external (or for that matter, the internal) environment of the experimental subject. Just as it is vital that stimuli be presented in a well-controlled and precise manner, it is vital that behavior be measured with accuracy and reliability or the results of the experiment are meaningless.
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References
A/D Converter. An electronic device that proportionately converts an analog signal into its digital representation. The number of “bits” associated with the converter indicates the precision. For example, an 8-bit A/D device converts an analog signal into numbers in the range of 0 to 255, whereas a 12-bit A/D device converts and analog signal into numbers in the rage of 0 to 4095.
LED. A discrete electronic device that gives off light — the Light Emitting Diode. Here used as a light source for converting mechanical movement into an electronic signal for computer acquisition. Originally only available in colored lights, the commonly available red was not a good choice as a source for a light CS. Now LEDs are available in white which are good choices as a CS.
Phototransistor. A discrete electronic device that proportionately converts light into an electronic signal. Here used as a detector for converting mechanical movement into an electronic signal for computer acquisition.
8255 PPI Chip. A large-scale integrated circuit, the Programmable Peripheral Interface chip allows a computer to activate or receive up to 24 digital signals associated with peripheral devices. In the later computer interfaces that are described, the 8255 chip is used to control tones, lights, airpuffs, shocks, etc.
Quad Comparator. An integrated circuit used to convert an analog signal into a digital yes-or-no signal by comparing the analog signal to a reference value (either the analog signal is or is not above the reference value). Comes in an integrated package with four independent comparators, hence a “quad comparator.”
CMOS Dual Timer. An integrated circuit, the 4528 chip has two independent timers.
Flip-Flop. After a capacitor, a flip-flop is the simplest of memory devices having only one of two states, yes or no (on or off; flip and flop, if you will). A flip-flop can be implemented with relays or with integrated circuits called ‘gates,’ in particular with NAND or NOR gates. A flip-flop is often used to debounce noisy mechanical switches.
NOR gate. An integrated circuit, the NOR gate is the complementary (opposite) of an OR gate in logical function. A gate typically has two inputs and one output. The output depends upon the states of the two inputs. In an OR gate, the output is a logic 1 (yes, on) if either or both of the inputs is also a logic 1. A NOR gate is the complement, where the output is a logic 1 (yes, on) only when both inputs are logic 0 (no, off).
NAND gate. An integrated circuit, the NAND gate is the complementary (opposite) of an AND gate in logical function. A gate typically has two inputs and one output. The output depends upon the states of the two inputs. In an AND gate, the output is a logic 1 (yes, on) if and only if both of the inputs are also a logic 1. A NAND gate is the complement, where the output is a logic 1 (yes, on) under all conditions except when both inputs are logic 1 — then the output is logic 0.
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© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Lavond, D.G., Steinmetz, J.E. (2003). Measuring Behavioral Responses. In: Handbook of Classical Conditioning. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0263-0_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0263-0_3
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