Psytask Manual
Contents
1. keyword that define the beginning of Show the picture Message on the screen command lt STIM_ID gt the stimulus identifier the letters and digits only SetBackground keyword that define the beginning of Set background picture command lt STIM_ID gt the stimulus identifier the letters and digits only Wait keyword that define the beginning of Wait delay command lt Delay gt time interval in milliseconds lt TRIAL_ID gt the trial identifier the letters and digits only lt AfterTrialDelay gt interval from the end of the given trial till the beginning of the next trial in ms lt TrialLabel gt label of the trial which is further used to determine the group of trials These labels should conventionally identify the category of stimulus or category of the subject s response for example standard and deviant stimuli in the Odd Ball task 7 2 5 Subject response processing commands list definition The list of subject response processing commands starts with the keyword ResponseProcessing and ends with the keyword EndProcessing In between these words subject response processing commands are listed as follows ResponseProcessing lt Name gt lt STIM gt lt MIN_LAT gt lt MAX_LAT gt lt KEY1 gt lt TYPE1 gt lt KEY2 gt lt TYPE2 gt lt LAB1 gt lt LAB2 gt lt Name gt lt STIM gt lt MIN_LAT gt lt MAX_LAT gt lt KEY1 gt lt TYPE1 gt lt KEY2 gt lt TYPE2 gt lt LAB1 gt2. During this procedure the selected files are copied automatically to work folder and their names are added to the end of stimuli list 2 Generate new sound using build in sound generator button Add New Sound see chapter Stimuli preparation procedure for details The sound will be written to work folder with the sound parameters file 3 Modify selected sound button Modify Sound using build in sound generator This button is enabled if the sound parameters file is available This means that the sounds added from files can be modified 4 Play existing sound button Play 18 5 Delete list of selected stimuli button Delete The selection of stimuli works very similar to Windows Explorer 6 Modify names of stimuli This function works similar to Windows Explorer 19 7 1 3 Modification of list of trials The next property page is used for creation and modification of trial list Fig 16 Modify task parameters x Task Property Stimuli List Trials List Presentation Order Responce Processing Name Duration Trial Stimuli List i 1200 ms Up 200 100 1200 ms Down 200 100 Add Complex Add Simple Modify Delete Cancel Apply Help Fig 16 Possibilities of this dialog window are 1 Look at description of each trial and select list of trials The selection of trials works very similar to Windows Explorer 2 Modify names of trials the name of trial can incl
3. PSYTASK User Manual Table of content 1 INTRODUCTION cntisssccssvacsetsossesassesvochconsceteseasecenteaseeteceuscechconseassutebucsousodendessevesseecsversoasebassonsossesasdusooshcesseuaesaass 3 2 MINIMAL IBM PC SPECIFICATION s e esessssseceesssessoesossssccoesssseeoroossssccorssssesceoosssscceesssseseeorsssseeeesssssserorsssse 3 3 PSYTASKINSTALLA TION 555 3055 cscs ihuseisnnd ead aren oa e n e iiinn aiei a 3 4 HOW TO RUN PSYTASK MAIN DIALOG WINDOW cscsssssssssssssssascsssessuscascascassascascascascascnscascaccascaseasens 7 5 MAIN DEFINITION PRESENTATION PROTOCOL cssssssssssssssssscesssscsssascessascescacescasceseasceseascesccecsecescss 7 6 STIMULI PREPARATION PROCEDURE sscsscssssssssssscascascaseascuseascascascascascuscascascasenscasenscascnseasenseasenseaseess 11 7 PREPARATION OF STIMULI PRESENTATION PROTOCOLG cccssssssssssssescasssseascescassascascasenseasenceaee 13 7 1 Editor of parameters of stimuli presentation protocol eesssessocsssecssocesocesoocssosessee 14 7 1 1 Definition of task properties sssssssssennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 15 7 1 2 Modification of list of StiMUDD cc eeceeeeseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaees 17 7 1 3 Modification of list of trials isccivccccscieecccccteccieectsosnvsctvewnseeteonssentvoniescteowsns 19 7 1 4 Modification of list of presentation commandsS ceceeseeeeeeeeeee 22 7 1 5 Modification of response pr
4. lt LAB2 gt EndProcessing Tne Name name of subject response processing command or name of condition STIM Order number of stimulus in the trial related which the reaction time will be calculated MIN_LAT minimal permissible latency of subject response in milliseconds MAN_LAT maximal permissible latency of subject response in milliseconds KEY 1 keyword that defines a mouse button or keyboard key that is used as a hot key for the first response 31 TYPE1 keyword that defines a type first response KEY2 keyword that defines a mouse button or keyboard key that is used as a hot key for the second response TYPE2 keyword that defines a type second response lt LAB1 gt lt LAB2 gt list of digital labels The labels should be entered using Space The next keywords are defined for mouse button or keyboard key None not used VK_SPACE Space Bar VK_LEFT Left Arrow VK_UP Up Arrow VK_RIGHT Right Arrow VK_DOWN Down Arrow MOUSE_LEFT Left Mouse Button MOUSE_RIGHT Right Mouse Button The next keywords are defined for type of subject response None not used Press press a button Skip ignore 7 3 Optimization of the stimuli presentation protocol These recommendations can be helpful to optimize the performance of stimuli presentation protocol L Switching of a video mode takes a lot of time one or more s
5. Fig 13 Possibilities of this dialog window are Oy 14 Create a new stimuli presentation protocol button New Editor of parameters of stimuli presentation protocol will appear on the screen Add any existing stimuli presentation protocol to the list of tasks button Add from During this procedure user should select a file of stimuli presentation protocol using a standard File Dialog Box If the file of stimuli presentation protocol is selected correctly PSYTASK automatically create new working folder and copies the file of stimuli presentation protocol and all files of stimuli The name of task will be added also to the end of list of tasks Modify parameters of stimuli presentation protocol using the editor of parameters of stimuli presentation protocol button Modify Modify stimuli presentation protocol using simplest text editor button Edit This command is useful for experienced users preferring to work with text file versus dialog windows This command includes also a simple debugger for finding syntactic errors not a logical in the stimuli presentation protocol Delete any existing stimuli presentation protocol from task list button Delete Change the order of tasks in the task list buttons Up and Down Save the changes in the task list button OK and return to the main dialog window 7 1 Editor of parameters of stimuli presentation protocol Du
6. the date of birth of the subject day month year Gender Gender of the subject Male or Female Notes Any additional text Can be left empty Press OK after the subject s card is filled in for starting the task 33 34 9 How to display results of investigation working with database To display results press button Display Database in the main dialog window Fig 31 E Psytask Fig 31 The next dialog window will appear on the screen Fig 32 35 x a se MBaHoB 004 20 01 09 Tova MpaHoB TEET 19 54 53 Tova 17209 2004 19 45 29 Left Right Tasl 14 09 2004 12 41 00 Tova 14 09 2004 12 32 10 Tova 13 09 2004 19 31 49 13 09 2004 18 12 50 13 09 2004 17 36 58 13 09 2004 17 22 00 13 09 2004 15 22 14 13 09 2004 15 14 25 1QNavennd 14 59 17 gt Task name Tova Date 17 09 2004 Time 20 01 09 Subject name Meaxos Date of birth 10 10 1990 Sex M Note Mpo6a nepa Eondon Toli Omission Comission LAT Jata m m StD AT2 al 5 274 0 0 ce 7 ti 0 0 a 0 Go 1 half 5 0 0 0 0 274 0 43 0 NoGo 1 half 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Go 2 half 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NoGo 2 half 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Go 1 qua 5 0 0 0 0 274 0 43 0 NoGo 1qua i 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 gt Number of records 22 Selected 11 Cancel Find Delete Report Fig 32 The list investigations are located in the upper part of the dialog window Use Arrow Up Arrow Down Page Up Pa
7. 0 0 274 0 43 0 INoGo 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Go 1 half 5 0 0 0 0 274 0 43 0 INoGo 1 half 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Go 2 half 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 INoGo 2 half 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Go 1 qua 5 0 0 0 0 274 0 43 0 INoGo 1qua 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Go 2 qua 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 INoGo 2 qua 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Go 3 qua 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 INoGo 3 qua 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Go 4 qua 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 INoGo 4 qua 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 To create a new database or open an existing one use a command Setup Database of the main dialog window Fig 34 CI x Start New Task Display Database Display List of Tasks Switch to Slave Mode SS a Ce eee Modify Synchronisation Parameters Quit Fig 34 The standard File Box Dialog window helps to find an existing file of database or enter the name of new database file If the specified file does not exist the empty database file will be created automatically 38 10 Working synchronously with the WinEEG or another program PSYTASK program is able to work synchronously with WinEEG program and some others In this case two computers on which PSYTASK and WinEEG for examples programs are installed must be connected via COM port using NULL modem cable PSYTASK program can work in two modes master mode and slave mode The synchronous work of two computer with appropriate programs will be able on
8. Sex are text fields For each of them the algorithm of comparison finds a part of line substring For example if Subject stores Peter Kugler and if Conditions of Subjects stores just Kugler this record will be selected For Data Time and Date of Birth the limits from to should be set in format day month year DD MM YYYY and hour minute second HH MM SS Each of conditions for subject s search is compared symbol to symbol with the records in the Data Base If single symbol does not meet the whole record is excluded Therefore in the case of incorrect condition set a selection with no selected records is quite possible In this case check the conditions of search carefully The conditions of search are kept unchanged continuously Therefore even after carrying out new investigations the list of selected records could remain empty In this case check the conditions of search or press button Clear for erasing all old conditions of search The button Delete is for calling deleting all selected records in the database Fig 32 The button Report is calling for creating the textual report for currently selected record and put it in the WS Word window The example of report is located below FINAL REPORT Name John Smith Date of Birth 10 10 1990 Gender M Task Tova Data 17 09 2004 Time 20 01 09 Condition Total Omission Commission RT1 RT2 StD RT1 StD RT2 Go 5 0 0
9. The exposition of each tone is equal to 100 ms Stimuli are presented by pairs corresponding to trials Interstimulus interval in a pair is equal to 1000 ms Two different pairs of stimuli are only presented low low tones Go trial and low high tone Nogo trial Trials are presented in random order with equal probability The interval between trials is equal to 1500 ms Subject has to press a button as soon as possible in case of presentation of the low low pair and ignore low high pair of stimuli Figure 9 shows schematically the time sequence of stimuli presentation in this task The scheme of stimuli presentation in Geologo task Press a button Go D Ignore Hego mubyject response oststimul interval second stimulus Inter stimuli interval First stimulus Prestimul mternvral Fig 9 The description of these trials is presented below Trial LL 2500 L 300 100 L 1300 100 EndtTrial Trial LH 2500 L 300 100 H 1300 100 EndtTrial 10 The description of presentation command should be placed below the description of trials The list of presentation command defines the sequence of trials and inter trials intervals A number of additional presentation commands can be used such as continuously display a picture can be used as description of subject task set background picture that is displayed on the screen between stimuli and expectation of pending of a number of seconds before presentation of next tr
10. UD 100ms 1 2 uu 100 ms aam Cancel Apply Help Fig 20 Possibilities of this dialog window are 1 View description of sequence of commands and select list of commands The selection of commands works very similar to Windows Explorer 2 Add one or a number of trials to the list of presentation commands Fig 20 The next dialog window is used to add trials Fig 21 In this case the added trials should be marked The buttons Select all and Unselect all help to mark stimuli The minimal and maximal after trial delay fields Minimal after trial delay and Maximal after trial delay numeric label of trials field Label and number of trials that will be added field Number of each trial should be also defined If Minimal after trial delay is not equal to Maximal after trial delay the random after trial delay will be specified for each added trial 23 CI i x List of trials Minimal after trial delay ms fi 00 Maximal after trial delay ms fi 00 Label fi Number of each tral fed Select all Unselect all Cancel Fig 21 If the list of marked trials includes more that one trial the each trial will be added to list of presentation commend the number of times being equal to parameter Number of each trial This means that 40 trials will be added in described example Fig 21 20 UU trials and 20 UD trials Finally if you need to add trials
11. by black color e Left Top The picture will be displayed at the left top cornet of the screen The unused areas on the screen will be filled by black color There is a difference in work of this property page during creation of new stimuli presentation protocol and during modification of an existing So it is impossible to modify the name of working folder and the name of file of stimuli presentation protocol That is why the corresponding fields are disabled during modification of parameters of existing stimuli presentation protocol 17 7 1 2 Modification of list of stimuli The next property page is used for creation and modification of stimulus list Fig 15 Modify task parameters Task Property Stimuli List Trials List Presentation Order Responce Processing Name TYPE File name p Image Up bmp BkGr Image BkGr bmp Down Image Down bmp Task Image Task bmp Add from File Add New Sound Modify Sound Delete Cancel Apply Help Fig 15 Described stimulus list is placed at left side of window Additional information about selected stimulus is displayed at the right top corner of window Place mouse pointer to the corresponding name of stimulus and click left button to select stimulus Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys can be also used for this goal Possibilities of this dialog window are 1 Add files of stimuli to the list of stimuli button Add from file
12. by its name text identifier after trials delay and numeric label The after trial delay helps to present trials with random inter trial interval The numeric labels are used to sort the trials by means for computation of reaction time omission and commission errors The list of presentation commands starts with the keyword PsyTest and ends with the keyword EndTest In between these words presentation commands are listed as follows PsyTest lt ScreenResolution gt lt ImageProcessing gt ShowPicture lt STIM ID gt SetBackground lt STIM_ID gt Wait lt Delay gt lt TRIAL_ID gt lt AfterTrialDelay gt lt TrialLabel gt 30 lt TRIAL_ID gt lt AfterTrialDelay gt lt TrialLabel gt lt TRIAL_ID gt lt AfterTrialDelay gt lt TrialLabel gt lt TRIAL_ID gt lt AfterTrialDelay gt lt TrialLabel gt EndTest Tne ScreenResolution keyword that defines video mode It can be 640x480x256Colors 640x480xHiColor 640x480xTrueColor 800x600x256Colors 800x600xHiColor 800x600xTrueColor 1024x768x256Colors 1024x768xHiColor 1024x768xTrueColor 1280x1024x256Colors 1280x1024xHiColor 1280x1024xTrueColor 1600x1280x256Colors 1600x1280xHiColor 1600x1280xTrueColor ImageProcessing keyword that defines the mode of image positioning It can be LeftTop display picture at the left top corner of screen Center place picture at the center of screen FitToPage expand or collapse picture to the size of the screen ShowPicture
13. calculated for every condition separately 8 VCPT task The VCPT task is GoNogo task The tree types of visual stimuli are presented in this task pictures with animals pictures with plants and pictures with peoples Stimuli are presented by pairs corresponding to trials There are four different types of pairs Animal Animal Animal Plant Plant Plant and Plant Human Trials are presented at random order with equal probability The duration of stimuli is equal 100 ms Inter stimulus interval in a pair is equal to 1100 ms Interval between trials is equal to 3100 ms Subject has to press a button Right Arrow 43 Key as soon as possible in case of presentation of Animal Animal pairs and ignore other pairs of stimuli The total number of trials is equal to 400 The parameters of performance are calculated for every condition separately 9 Mathematical task The Mathematical task is GoNogo task The visual stimuli are presented by pairs corresponding to trials The first stimulus is arithmetical equation the second integer number There are two types of pairs in the first the result of arithmetical equation is equal to second number in the second not equal Subject has to press a button Right Arrow Key as soon as possible in respond to first type pairs and ignore second type pairs The duration of first stimulus in the pair is equal 400 ms and second 200 ms Inter stimulus interval in a pair is equal
14. provides a possibility to generate a sound consisting of a number up to 8 of consequent tones modulated by trapezium The parameters of tones for left and right channel are defined separately The next dialog window helps to define parameters of tones Fig 10 Name Soundt File name Sound m Left Right Type Type Frequency Hz Volume 2 3 4 x Duration ms Attack ms Decay ms Frequency Hz Volume 5 5 TTT Total duration ms fi 50 Cancel Fig 10 Display Play 12 The field Name is used to define text identifier of stimulus only letters and digits without space and any delimiters The name should be defined without errors The field File name is used to define name of corresponding file without extension only letters and digits with out space and any delimiters The file name should be defined without errors Following set of parameters should be defined for each simple tone Duration length of tone in milliseconds Attack duration of tone attack in milliseconds Decay duration of tone decay in milliseconds Type type of sound It could be Off silence Sine Square Noise R click and C click The type of tone for left and right channel is defined separately Frequency tone frequency in hertz This parameter is used for Sine or Square tones only The frequency of tone f
15. short 1 long The frequency of presented tones is selected randomly Subject has to press a button Right Arrow Key as soon as possible in respond to long tones The parameters of performance are calculated for all short tones for all long tones for long tones after 2 4 short tones and for long tones after 5 8 short tones separately 11 Mismatch negativity task One of two easily discriminated auditory stimuli the low frequency tone 1000 Hz and the high frequency tone 1300 Hz or one of twenty complex auditory stimuli the combination of five short tones with the frequency 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 ms is randomly presented for 100 milliseconds every 850 milliseconds Total number of stimuli is equal to 2000 The probability of the low frequency tone is equal to 0 8 the probability of the high frequency tone or complex tone is equal to 0 1 There are two type of task active and passive In active task subject has to 44 press a button Right Arrow Key as soon as possible in respond to the high frequency tone and ignore other stimuli In passive task subject has to ignore all stimuli and has to read a book or watch TV The parameters of performance are calculated for the low frequency tones standard stimuli for the high frequency tones deviant stimuli and for complex tones novel stimuli separately
16. stimuli files and file of stimuli presentation protocol are stored and some additional files The working folder is created in the root folder of PSYTASK program usually C PSYTASK folder The list of tasks is written in the file with the name PSYTASK CFG It stored together with PSYTASK EXE program in the same folder For example see the figure 8 RF Psytask i 0 x Fie Edit View Favorites Tools Help ay 60 0 2 sw K oe e Search Folders Back Forward Up Move To Copy To Delete Address C Mitsar Psytask Go Folders x doc JREPORT DOC Mitsar af GoNogo E Uninst isu O BrainTuner GoNogo LRTASK doc P300AUDI GoNogo P300VIS GoNogov PATTERNS gt LRTASK TOVA P300aUc pstbase dbf B P300VIS PSYTASK bmp gt PATTERN ja Psytask cfg Psytask O Tova iS sytask exe a ary zean 4 gt 14 objects 1 12 MB d My Computer yy Fig 8 The stimuli presentation protocol is a text ASCII file It includes a list of stimuli list of trials list of presentation commands the sequence of trials in simplest case and list of response processing commands The list of stimuli should include all files used in stimuli presentation protocol Such as 1 All picture and sound files presented in the task 2 All picture files displayed during inter stimuli time intervals so named background pictures 3 All picture files used as descri
17. the task The total number of presented stimuli is equal to 500 The parameters of performance are calculated for target standard stimulus and non target deviant stimulus separately 4 Auditory Odd Ball task P300 One of two easily discriminated auditory stimuli the low frequency tone 1000 Hz and high frequency tone 1300 Hz is randomly presented for 100 milliseconds every 2 seconds The stimulus with high frequency tone is the designed target Subject is instructed to press a button 42 Right Arrow Key every time they hear this stimulus The target is presented on 20 of the trials during the task The total number of presented stimuli is equal to 500 The parameters of performance are calculated for target standard stimulus and non target deviant stimulus separately 5 Visual GONogo task One of two easily discriminated visual stimuli a coloured square containing a small square adjacent to either the top or bottom edge is presented for 100 milliseconds Stimuli are presented by pairs corresponding to trials Inter stimulus interval in a pair is equal to 1000 ms Two different pairs of stimuli are presented only Top Top pair Go trial and Top Bottom pair Nogo trial Trials are presented at random order with 50 probability The interval between trials is equal to 1500 ms Subject has to press a button Right Arrow Key as soon as possible in case of presentation of the Top Top pair and ignore T
18. to 1100 ms Interval between trials is equal to 3100 ms The total number of trials is equal to 200 The parameters of performance are calculated for every condition separately 10 Reading task The Reading task is GoNogo task The visual stimuli are presented by pairs corresponding to trials The first stimulus is a word presented visually in the screen and second the same or another word presented auditory There are two types of pairs in the first presented words are the same in the second are different Subject has to press a button Right Arrow Key as soon as possible in respond to first type pairs and ignore second type pairs The duration of first stimulus in the pair is equal 200 ms and second is about 700 ms Inter stimulus interval in a pair is equal to 1100 ms Interval between trials is equal to 3100 ms The total number of trials is equal to 200 The parameters of performance are calculated for every condition separately 11 Auditory task One of eight easily discriminated auditory stimuli four short tones duration is equal to 100 ms with different frequency and four long tones duration is equal to 400 ms are presented every 1100 milliseconds Inter stimulus interval is equal to 1100 ms Total number of stimuli is equal to 994 There are 7 different sequences of stimuli presented randomly with equal probability 2 short 1 long 3 short 1 long 4 short 1 long 5 short 1 long 6 short 1 long 7 short 1 long and 8
19. e or select one from the existing Folders list Click Next to continue Program Folders Existing Folders Antology of Rock BOOKcase 4 0 Broderbund Software Brother HL 1230 Cambridge lt Back Cancel Fig 5 Type a new folder name if you want Press Next button to continue installation Setup Complete Setup has finished installing Psytask on your computer Setup can launch the Read Me file and Psytask Choose the options you want below Click Finish to complete Setup Fig 6 Press Finish button to complete Setup Please don t forget to set the correct synchronization parameters if you want to use PSYTASK program together with WinEEG program or another software 4 How to run PSYTASK Main Dialog Window To run PSYTASK find executable file PSYTASK EXE and double click it After that the Main window of PSSYTASK program will appear on the screen x Display Database Display List of Tasks Switch to Slave Mode Setup Database Modify Synchronisation Parameters Quit Fig 7 The Main Window of PSYTASK program is a dialog window Using buttons of MainWindow user can perform different commands of PSYTASK program The button Start New Task is used for the start of new psychological test with presentation of stimuli and measurement of the reaction time and other performance parameters The button Display Database is used to open build in database to displa
20. econds That is why it is strong recommended to place Wait command at the beginning of stimuli presentation protocol Otherwise the first visual stimulus can be invisible The setting of the background picture can be recognized as additional stimulus That is why it is strong recommended to place Wait command after this command Ifthe stimuli list includes less than 16 stimuli entire corresponding file will be loaded at the beginning of task Otherwise the next subset of stimuli will be loaded before the next trial That is why the after trial delay should not be very short The preparation of the next stimulus is performed during inter stimulus interval That is why these intervals should not be very short If the picture will replace by the next stimulus without displaying of background picture the exposition of this stimulus should be equal to zero In this case the picture will replace the background picture For example see Reversionary patterns task The picture is displayed with some delay being less or equal to the time interval used to display one screen frame It depends on screen refresh rate To minimize this delay try to set maximal screen refresh rate in Control Panel The video and auditory stimuli can be presented simultaneously But some delay between video and auditory stimuli onsets can appear The value of this delay depends on the hardware but usually it is shorter than 10 ms Some problems with s
21. g with two per second rate Each session includes 100 switches of patterns The subject should look at the middle of screen or at the special filled circle 2 Test of Variables of Attention Tova One of two easily discriminated visual stimuli a coloured square containing a small square adjacent to either the top or bottom edge is randomly presented for 100 milliseconds every 2 seconds The stimulus with the inner square adjacent to the top edge is the designed target Subject is instructed to press a button Right Arrow Key every time they see this stimulus The target non target ratio differs in two halves of the TOVA The target is presented on 22 5 of the trials during the first half whereas the target is presented on 77 5 of trial during the second half The total number of presented stimuli is equal to 640 The parameters of performance are calculated for Go and Nogo condition for full test for first half and second half of task and for each quarter of task separately 3 Visual Odd Ball task P300 One of two easily discriminated visual stimuli a coloured square containing a small square adjacent to either the top or bottom edge is randomly presented for 100 milliseconds every 2 seconds The stimulus with the inner square adjacent to the top edge is the designed target Subject is instructed to press a button Right Arrow Key every time they see this stimulus The target is presented on 20 of the trials during
22. ge Down Home End or mouse to select an appropriate item from the list The subject s card is located under the list of investigations The table of results is located under the subject s card This table includes the eight columns Condition the name for subject response processing command Total the total amount of trials which correspond to this condition Omission the percent of trials with omission errors Commission the percent of trials with commission errors RT1 reaction time calculated for a first pressed key button RT2 reaction time calculated for a second pressed key button StD RT1 standard deviation of reaction time calculated for a first pressed key button StD RT2 standard deviation of reaction time calculated for a second pressed key button The button Find is used for calling the automatic search of results of investigation using the given features The next dialog window will appear on the screen Fig 33 36 Base records search parameters xj Tast name Date from o 201 2004 to 31 12 2004 Time from to Subject Date of birth from to Sex Cancel Clear Fig 33 This dialog window is used to set the parameters of records used to make selection form the database Unfilled fields are not used If all fields are not filled in all records will be selected Fields Task Name Subject
23. gram or any portion of it may result in severe civil and criminal penalties and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under law Fig 1 Press Next button to continue installation Choose Destination Location x Setup will install Psytask in the following folder To install to this folder click Next To install to a different folder click Browse and select another folder You can choose not to install Psytask by clicking Cancel to exit Setup Fig 2 Press Browse button if you would like to change location of PSYTASK program Press Next button to continue installation Typical Program will be installed with the most common aoe 3 options Recommended for most users Compact Program will be installed with minimum required options C Custom You may choose the options you want to install Recommended for advanced users peen Fig 3 Type a new folder name if you want Press Next button to continue installation Select Components x Select the components you want to install clear the components you do not want to install Components y Program Executables 1244 K 30K 11301 K 4K Space Required 13711 K Space Available 2096832 K lt Back Next gt Cancel Fig 4 Select components you want to install Select Program Folder x Setup will add program icons to the Program Folder listed below You may type a new folder nam
24. ial The last command is useful in case when it is necessary to make a delay after changing background picture Each presented trial is described by its name text identifier after trials delay and numeric label The after trial delay helps to present trial with a random inter trial interval The numeric labels is used to sort the trials by means for future computation of reaction time omission and commission errors The short list of presentation commands is shown below PsyTest 640x480x256Colors LeftTop Wait 2000 LL 100 2 LH 100 1 LH 100 1 LH 100 1 LH 100 1 LH 100 1 LH 100 1 LH 100 1 LH 100 1 LL 100 2 EndTest Finally the description of response processing commands can be added to stimuli presentation protocol The example is shown below ResponseProcessing Go 2 100 1000 VK_RIGHT Press None None 2 NoGo 2 100 1000 VK_RIGHT Skip None None 1 EndProcessing Please see a chapter Editing of stimuli presentation protocol manually for details 11 6 Stimuli preparation procedure Each stimulus should be prepared manually before starting of task design except simplest sounds The pictures graphic pixel files can be prepared using any graphic editor such as Paint PhotoShop and other PSYTASK can use graphics pixel files with some formats such as BMP JPEG and some other If some graphics file format is not compatible with PSYTASK for example PCX this file can be converted to another format using the g
25. itch PSYTASK program to Slave Mode press Switch to Slave Mode button of main dialog window Fig 37 CT x Start New Task Sa ae as ae rsa Display Database Display List of Tasks Setup Database Modify Synchronisation Parameters li Fig 37 In this mode PSYTASK program works automatically It is waiting for control and synchronization codes sent by WinEEG program and perform corresponding commands To exit from Slave Mode press Esc key on keyboard 41 Appendix The short description of tasks included as examples 1 Reversible chess patterns The reversible chess pattern tasks are used for recording visual evoked potentials There is a set of stimuli presentation protocols with different parameters of stimulation 1 The visual stimuli differ by angle size of rectangular cells in the pattern The angle size can be 5 10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 minutes The angle size will be correct if 17 monitor is used and subject s location from monitor is about 1 5 meter 2 The patterns stimulate different visual areas left visual area L right visual area R and both left and right areas A There are stimuli presentation protocols include stimulation only entire visual area A the left area at the first part of task and right area at second part of task LR and full visual area at the first part left area at the second part of task and right area at third part of task ALR The patterns are switchin
26. ly if the parameters of synchronization is specified correctly 10 1 Definition of parameters of synchronization To specify or change the parameters of synchronization press button Modify Synchronization Parameters of main dialog window Fig 35 CE x Start New Task Display Database Display List of Tasks Switch to Slave Mode Setup Database a Se Fig 35 The next dialog window will appear on the screen Fig 36 Parameters of synchronisation x Parameters of Synchronization Port Synchronization port to which a master computer is connected COM 1 i Baudrate 57600 Number of bits 8 bi Parity None Stop bits fi Synchronisation mode Dont send synchro codes wWinEEG control Cancel 39 Fig 36 The parameters of the synchronization port should be defined such as port number Synchronization port to which a master computer is connected the speed of transfer Baud rate the length of the transferring word Number of bits the number of stop bits Stop bits checking parity Parity Usually for WinEEG program the following setting is needed Baud rate 57600 Number of bits 8 Stop bits 1 Parity None There is no way to automatically define number of COM port to which master computer is connected That is why the following steps should be done to specify this parameter 1 Perform Switch to Slave Mode command of PSYTASK program 2 Perform Anal
27. modes e Default 640 x 480 256 Colors 640 x 480 256 Colors 640 x 480 High Color 16 bit 640 x 480 True Color 24 bit 800 x 600 256 Colors e 800 x 600 High Color 16 bit 16 800 x 600 True Color 24 bit 1024 x 768 256 Colors 1024 x 768 High Color 16 bit 1024 x 768 True Color 24 bit 1280 x 1024 256 Colors 1280 x 1024 High Color 16 bit 1280 x 1024 True Color 24 bit 1600 x 1280 256 Colors 1600 x 1280 High Color 16 bit e 1600 x 1280 True Color 24 bit Attention Some video modes can t be supported by video card or monitor of your computer The good idea is to try to set video mode using Control panel before selecting it Otherwise you can receive unpredictable results Attention During changing the video mode PSYTASK tries to set the current Windows refresh rate But some video modes can t be supported by video card or monitor of your computer The good idea is to try to set video mode with selected refresh rate using Control panel if you plan to use the screen resolution higher than screen resolution used by Windows Otherwise you can receive unpredictable results 5 Image processing method field Image processing There are tree options e Fit to screen The picture will be enlarged or collapsed to the screen size The aspect ratio can change e Centered The picture will be displayed at the center on the screen The unused areas on the screen will be filled
28. n and stimuli parameters fields Start and Exposition should be also defined The buttons Select all and Unselect all help to mark stimuli 4 Modify parameters of selected trials button Modify Fig 16 The next dialog window is used to modify the parameters of trials Fig 19 Set modify trial parameters x Trial name Trial duration ms jo Stimulus Start ms Exposition ms 30q LL z z z 4 SS zl z eT Cancel Fig 19 Only modified parameters of trial should be defined during this procedure Unfilled fields will be ignored 5 Delete selected trials button Delete Fig 16 22 7 1 4 Modification of list of presentation commands The next property page is used for creation and modification of list of presentation commands Fig 20 Modify task parameters k x Task Property Stimuli List Trials List Presentation Order Responce Processing Name Stimulus Add ShowPicture Task SetBackground BkGr z Wait 2000 ms Mody UU 100ms 2 UU 100ms 2 Randomize UU 100ms 2 UU 100ms 2 UD 100ms 1 UD 100ms 1 UD 100ms 1 Display Picture UU 100ms 2 UD 100ms 1 uu 100ms 2 Background uu 100ms 2 UU 100ms 2 Delay UU 100ms 2 UD 100 ms 1 UD 100ms 1 o Pue uu 100 ms 2 uu 100 ms 2 UD 100ms 1 uu 100 ms 2 uu 100 ms 2 UD 100ms 1 UU 100ms 2 Copy UD 100ms 1 UU 100ms 2 uu 100ms 2 Paste UU 100ms 2 UU 100ms 2 Delete
29. ocessing parameterS ssssssssssssnnnnnne 26 7 2 Editing of stimuli presentation protocol manually esesssessocssscessecssoossooesssesssesssoee 28 7 2 1 Task name definition naaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnne 28 1 2 2 Stim li list GOTINITION S vssssicseejcccat secs eriseser cide caceuatecserssineuceuuteeecwsuavesivauteenees 29 T23 Frials TSU OCTIMINION siiccuis anced canriatewscads saiaacvescetedudsesdadxixeciscwescusadvarscuaccdteusess 29 7 2 4 Presentation commands list definition ccccceeesseeeesseeeeeeeeeeeeeees 29 7 2 5 Subject response processing commands list definition 0 30 7 3 Optimization of the stimuli presentation Protocol ccccsccssssccssssccssssscsssscsssseseees 31 9 HOW TO DISPLAY RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION WORKING WITH DATABASEB scssscseeee 34 10 WORKING SYNCHRONOUSLY WITH THE WINEEG OR ANOTHER PROGRAM cscsssseeeee 38 10 1 Definition of parameters of synchronization cccscccsssccssssccsssscsssssscssssssssscssseees 38 10 2 Working in Master Mode ccccsscccccesssscessscssssccccsccseccssosceesscesssssccessscecscscsseescccses 40 10 3 Working in Slave Mode seessooesocesooessocsssecesocesocesoocesoessocessocesocesoosesocessecesocesocssossssse 40 APPENDIX THE SHORT DESCRIPTION OF TASKS INCLUDED AS EXAMPLE G scsscssssscssecseseee 41 1 Reversible chess patterns ees
30. of each trial in this mode PSYTASK send synchronization codes synchronously with beginning of each trial one code for each trial 3 Send synchronously with first stimulus onset in this mode PSYTASK send synchronization codes synchronously with first stimulus onset of each trial one code for each trial 4 Send synchronously with each stimulus onset in this mode PSYTASK send synchronization codes synchronously with each stimulus onset of each trial a number of codes being equal to number of stimulus in trial are sent for each trial Attention The last modes are active if PSYTASK works in Master Mode only If PSYTASK works in Slave Mode this parameter is disabled 40 10 2 Working in Master Mode To start PSYTASK program in Master Mode it is necessary to perform the next steps 1 Specify parameters of synchronization This parameters will depend on which parameters are used in another program working in Slave Mode 2 Specify one of following synchronisation modes Send synchronously with beginning of each trial Send synchronously with first stimulus onset or Send synchronously with each stimulus onset 3 Start data acquisition in program working in Slave Mode 4 Start any task in PSYTASK program Attention The program working in Slave Mode should be able to receive synchronization codes and measure time moments when these codes are received 10 3 Working in Slave Mode To sw
31. op Bottom pairs of stimuli The total number of trials is equal to 480 The parameters of performance are calculated for Go and Nogo condition 6 Auditory GONogo task One of two easily discriminated auditory stimuli the low frequency tone 1000 Hz and high frequency tone 1300 Hz is randomly presented for 100 milliseconds Stimuli are presented by pairs corresponding to trials Inter stimulus interval in a pair is equal to 1000 ms Two different pairs of stimuli are presented only Low Low pair Go trial and Low High pair Nogo trial Trials are presented at random order with 50 probability The interval between trials is equal to 1500 ms Subject has to press a button Right Arrow Key as soon as possible in case of presentation of Low Low pair and ignore Low High pairs of stimuli The total number of trials is equal to 480 The parameters of performance are calculated for Go and Nogo condition 7 Left Right task The three different stimuli left adjacent filled circle right adjacent filled circle and both left and right adjacent filled circle is randomly presented for 100 milliseconds every 1 1 seconds The subject has to press left button Left Arrow Key in response to presentation of left adjacent circle right button Right Arrow Key right adjacent circle and both buttons Left Arrow Key and Right Arrow Key both circles The total number of trials is equal to 300 The parameters of performance are
32. or left and right channel is defined separately Volume tone volume in dB The volume type of tone for left and right channel is defined separately Button OK is used for generation of sound and for saving Button Play is used for generation of sound and playing it Button Display is used for generation of sound and displaying its waveforms see Fig 11 Sound waveforms x qn 20 30 Right Left we T T 70 80 100 110 120 130 v S 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 Play Fig 11 Button Play is used for playing the sound 13 7 Preparation of stimuli presentation protocols The build in editor of stimuli presentation protocol can be used for creating new protocol editing and deleting any existing protocol To open the build in editor of stimuli presentation protocol press Display List of Tasks button Fig 12 I x Start New Task Display Database Switch to Slave Mode Setup Database Modify Synchronisation Parameters Quit Fig 12 The List of Tasks will appear on the screen Fig 13 x Visual P300 New x GoNogo Audio GoNogo Visual Pattern 5 min ALR Pattern 5 min 4 Modify Pattern 5 min LA Pattern 10 min ALR Edit Add from Delete iL ERE Pattern 20 min LR Up Pattern 25 min ALR Pattern 25 min 4 Down Pattern 25 min LR Pattern 30 min ALF x Cancel
33. oucuspseeecende 43 1 Introduction PSYTASK is a program for preparation and carry out both psychophysics and psychophysiology investigations PSYTASK main features are l 2 3 2 Visual on the monitor screen and auditory using sound card and speakers stimuli presentation Reaction time measurement To measure the reaction time keyboard and mouse can be used PSYTASK is working together with Mitsar digital EEG recorder WinEEG software and provides a synchronous stimuli presentation with EEG acquisition In this case two computers connected via COM ports are used PSYTASK program works on the first computer and WinEEG program works on the second computer WinEEG program send synchronization codes to PSYTASK program to control its work and provides a synchronous stimuli presentation with EEG acquisition The recoded data can be used to calculate and analyze event related potentials ERP and or event related desynchronization ERD PSYTASK program can send synchronization codes to another program via COM port This feature provides a possibility to carry out ERP studies using another amplifiers and another program that is able to detect synchronization codes PSYTASK program have a users friendly interface that provide a possibility to design psychological tasks PSYTASK program measures the reaction time and task performance parameters omission and commission errors and save them to build in database for the futu
34. ption of subject task Each stimulus is described by its type Sound or Image name text identifier and name of corresponding file The example of list of stimuli is presented below StimuliList Sound H H WAV Sound L L WAV EndStimuli Where a low frequency tone have a name L and high frequency tone H 1 Please see a chapter Editing of stimuli presentation protocol manually for details 9 The description of all trials should be placed after description of stimuli list The trial is a minimal time interval where a number one or more of stimuli are presented within And this sequence of stimuli defines unique subject response Each trial includes background time interval time interval before first stimulus time interval of first stimulus presentation between stimuli intervals time interval of second stimulus presentation and post stimuli interval during which the subject should respond Each trial is described by its name text identifier duration and list of stimuli Each stimulus in the trial is described by its name text identifier offset from a beginning of trial to stimulus onset and stimulus exposition It should be stressed that the exposition of sound is equal its length as defined in corresponding stimulus file The description of two stimuli GoNogo task will be considered below as example In this task two different tones 1000 Hz low tone and 1300 Hz high tone are presented
35. raphics editor The some simple rules should be kept in the mind during the preparation of pictures 1 Don t use picture with the resolution size more then screen resolution These pictures can be used but the PSYTASK program will work slower and time limitation will be stronger The color distortions can appear also in some cases The optimal resolution is equal to screen resolution Don t use picture with the high color resolution if this is not necessary This increases the time of processing PSYTASK can use the picture with 1 bit colors monochrome 4 bits colors 8 bits colors 16 bits colors and 24 32 bits colors PSYTASK can also set different video modes 8 bits colors 16 bits colors and 24 32 bits colors Don t use the pictures with color resolution higher than video mode color resolution The color distortions will appear in this case If the size in pixels of picture is lower then screen resolution there are different ways to display it depending on picture processing mode Please keep in mind that pictures are displayed on black screen The sounds can be prepared by different ways using build in sound generator coping from any library of sounds recording new sounds using sound card from any source of sounds CD player or microphone The optimal format of sound files for PSYTASK is sampling rate 44100 Hz 16 bits stereo The build in sound generator can be used for preparation of simplest sounds This generator
36. re analysis and final report preparation Minimal IBM PC specification The time limitations of PSYTASK program strongly depend on parameters of computer its CPU speed total amount of RAM speed of hard disk and video card It is difficult to say definitely when these limitations will be critical That is why we recommend you to test the performance of PSYTASK for each new designed task The PSYTASK was tested on the computer with the specification presented below and its performance was measured The results were rather good 3 CPU Pentium IV 2000 RAM 256 Mb HDD 80 Gb 7200 ATA 100 Video Card SVGA 64 Mb AQP with graphics accelerator GF2MX400 Sound Card Creative Labs SB Live 5 1 Monitor 17 OS MS Windows XP and DirectX 9 0 PSYTASK Installation To install PSYTASK program 1 Insert the CD to the corresponding drive 2 Open folder with name PSYTASK 3 Run SETUP EXE program 4 Follow the instructions on the screen Welcome to the Psytask Setup program This program will install Psytask on your computer It is strongly recommended that you exit all Windows programs before running this Setup program Click Cancel to quit Setup and then close any programs you have running Click Next to continue with the Setup program WARNING This program is protected by copyright law and international treaties Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this pro
37. ring both creation new and editing existing stimuli presentation protocol the Modify task parameters dialog window will appear on the screen This dialog window consists of five property pages 1 Task properties Fig 14 2 Stimuli list Fig 15 3 Trials list Fig 16 4 Presentation order Fig 20 5 Response processing Fig 26 Using this property pages it is possible to define or modify all parameters of stimuli presentation protocol 15 7 1 1 Definition of task properties Modify task parameters x Task Property Stimuli List Trials List Presentation Order Responce Processing Task Name Subfolder Name PS004UD Protocol File Name 9 P3004UD PRO Screen Resolution Defaut Image Processing Fit to Screen v Fig 14 The next parameters should be defined for each stimuli presentation protocol 1 Name of task field Task Name any text 2 Name of working folder field Subfolder Name only letters and digits without space and any delimiters 3 Name of file of stimuli presentation protocol field Protocol File Name only letters and digits without space and any delimiters 4 Video mode field Screen Resolution There is no possibility to change the video mode during the task It can be set only once at the beginning of task After the end of task the video mode will be restored to the Windows default It is possible to use the following video
38. sssoocsssoocessooccessocosessocesssooecssooecesssoossssocecssoocessosecsssscosessosese 41 2 Test of Variables of Attention Tova cccccccccssssssscsccsccccssssssssccscccccsssscssssseccccsessseees 41 3 Visual Odd Ball task P300 ccisiisenscasoscnsssasscrssosasavdasdsersedesvendsvsassoctsesstveadsvsnssessssenseonssersss 41 4 Auditory Odd Ball task P300 soosseosoosoosssesoossosssessoesosssessossocssessossoossesssssoossossssssossoe 41 Se Visual GONG RO CASK eicsccescsschcacsxscacets cocavacnetineacapesncessasaen cas cocnces anscacennpetveas ea bsar suae ia sisas 42 6 Auditory GONOBO task cciasesicscaseseceiiesecibasts pacandsencacadecccssecdueccacsneusaseaocestacaveceasceehcsutenneseun 42 Te Left Right task 5 5c05 ceasetoasenaacoscupacasaesup cus couse uu sennupsas ia cone ee cava ne ea SOOS Ees SaGa O HIS ERRORS 42 Be A O a DE A T EA E A scevesionsecussvnacseevoucsssentn seasosenss sapsunadsvesbessnsntvcvasosnissessousd 42 9 Mathematical task iiossissecsisecscssessosesesssicstassisoossicoossbensnsserussoicotosscoseasinrorshe tosse se siess Seain oE 43 LO Reading TASK sssesccsacccccssssnsseacorsuancctaacsendaseasastuiiedadeaass nocdbsdeaicds qutacseinsdaivadestscaiiadeeciaestbiade 43 DD A dit ry CASK ss cacexissenvssaxesaduseipeusssuadoucsvcesevsnsestntscvensbiaseaesiaeanevuidesau seas ocucusaeacs sovnedeuvnasevecs 43 11 Mismatch negativity task ssi cciiscssxsipccveceovacodeaencess cats cavescvaces conseevencesacheorssacsby
39. t is placed at the beginning of stimuli presentation protocol Only one stimuli list can be described in stimuli presentation protocol 7 2 3 Definition of trials list Each trial is described separately Its description starts with the keyword Trial and ends with the keyword EndTrial In between these words the stimuli are listed as follows Trial lt TRIAL_ID gt lt TrialLength gt lt STIM_ID gt lt StartTime gt lt Exposition gt lt STIM_ID gt lt StartTime gt lt Exposition gt EndTrial Where TRIAL_ID the identifier of the trial the letters and digits only TrialLength trial duration in milliseconds STIM_ID the stimulus identifier see above StartTime the time of the stimulus onset in ms from the beginning of the trial and Exposition the stimulus duration in ms 7 2 4 Definition of presentation command list The description of presentation command should be placed below the description of trials The list of presentation command defines the sequence of trials and inter trial intervals A number of additional presentation commands can be used such as e Display a picture continuously can be used as description of subject task e Set background picture which is displayed on the screen between stimuli e Wait a number of seconds before continue to present next trial The last command is useful in case when it is necessary to make a delay after changing background picture Each presented trial is described
40. ta acquisition and stimuli presentation Copy list of selected presentation commands to local PSYTASK clipboard button Copy Fig 20 Insert list of presentation commands to local PSYTASK clipboard button Paste Fig 20 Delete list of selected presentation commands button Delete Fig 20 26 7 1 5 Modification of response processing parameters The next property page is used for creation and modification of subject response processing command list Fig 26 Modify task parameters 100ms 1000ms Press KBD_RIGHT None 100ms 1000ms Skip KBD_RIGHT None Fig 26 Possibilities of this dialog window are 1 Look at description of subject response processing commands and select list of these commands The selection of commands works very similar to Windows Explorer 2 Add new subject response processing command button Add Fig 26 The next dialog window is used to define parameters of subject response processing command Fig 27 27 x Name Trial labels E Stimulus 2o H Minimal latency ms fi oo Maximal latency ms fi ooo Type Hot key First responce Press he Right Arrow hd Second responce None Null z Cancel Fig 27 The next parameters should be defined in this dialog window e Name of subject response processing command field Name any text e List of numeric labels field Trial labels The labels sho
41. ude letters and digits only This function works similar to Windows Explorer 3 Add new trial buttons Add Complex and Add simple Fig 16 The complex trial is a trial that includes more then one stimulus The next dialog window is used to define the parameters of complex trial Fig 17 20 Set modify trial parameters xj Trial name NoGo Trial duration ms 2000 Stimulus Start ms Exposition ms 1 Up ee 00 100 Down 100 UY LUL Cancel z z z zi z xl i Fig 17 The next set of parameters should be defined for complex trial name field Trial name letters and digits only duration in milliseconds field Trial duration and the parameters of each stimulus Each stimulus in the trial is described by its name selected from a list offset from a beginning of trial to the stimulus onset and stimulus exposition in milliseconds The simple trial includes single stimulus If the timing parameters of trials are the same there is a possibility to add a list of trials corresponding to list of selected stimuli The next dialog window is used to define the parameters of simple trial Fig 18 Set trials parameters xj Stimuli Duration ms 2000 Start ms 200 Exposition ms fiod Down Task Select all Unselect all 21 In this case used stimuli should be marked The trial duration field Duratio
42. uld be entered using Space e Ordinal number of stimulus in the trial related to which the reaction time will be calculated usually the last stimulus in the trial button Stimulus e Minimal and maximal permitted latency of subject response in milliseconds fields Minimal latency and Maximal latency e Type of subject response and mouse button or keyboard key fields Type and Hot key It should be emphasized that there are three different types of subject response 1 press one button 2 press two buttons simultaneously and 3 ignore the trial If the task is to press only one button the reaction time its standard deviation percent of omission errors and percent of commission errors will be calculated If the task is to press two buttons simultaneously the reaction time its standard deviation will be calculated for both buttons separately The percent of omission errors and percent of commission errors will be calculated If the task is to ignore the trial the percent of commission errors will be calculated 3 Change parameters of subject response processing command button Modify Fig 26 The same window as described above will be used for this goal Fig 27 4 Delete selected subject response processing command from list button Delete Fig 26 28 7 2 Editing of stimuli presentation protocol manually In order to edit text of stimuli presentation protocol
43. using simple text editor press the button Edit of List of Task dialog window Fig 13 The next dialog window will be displayed on the screen Fig 28 GoNogo isual l x TaskName GoNogo Visual StimuliList Image Task Task bmp Image BkGr BkGr bmp Image Down Down bmp Image Up Up bmp EndStimuli Trial UU 2400 Up 300 100 Up 1300 100 EndT rial Trial UD 2400 Up 300 100 Down 1300 100 EndT rial PsyT est 800 600xT rueColor FitT oPage ShowPicture Task SetBackground BkGr Wait 2000 UU 1002 UU 1002 UU 1002 UU 1002 UD 1001 UD 1001 UD 1001 v e Save Cancel Fig 28 The commands keywords and syntactic rules of stimuli presentation protocol will be described below 7 2 1 Definition of task name TaskName lt Test Name gt Where TaskName keyword and lt Test Name gt any text Generally this command is placed at the beginning of stimuli presentation protocol 29 7 2 2 Definition of stimuli list The list of Stimuli starts with the keyword StimuliList and ends with the keyword EndStimuli Two types of stimuli are available for the user picture Image and acoustic stimulus Sound The list of stimuli is defined as follows StimuliList Image lt STIM_ID gt lt FileName gt Sound lt STIM_ID gt lt FileName gt EndStimuli where STIM_ID the stimulus identifier the letters and digits only and FileName the name of file which stores a picture or a sound The stimuli lis
44. with different digital labels this procedure should be repeated many times Change parameters of selected presentation commands button Modify Fig 20 The next dialog window is used for this goal Fig 22 Change trials labels and delays x Trial label 2 Aftertrial delay ms fo Cancel Fig 22 Only modified parameters of presentation commands should be defined during this procedure Unfilled fields will be ignored 24 4 Randomize the order of presentation command in selected list button Randomize Fig 20 5 Add command Display Picture button Display Picture Fig 20 Usually this command is used to display the description of subject task on the screen The next dialog window is used to select appropriate stimulus Fig 23 a x BkGr Down Up Cancel Fig 23 6 Add command Set Background button Background Fig 20 This command is used to define the picture that will be displayed on the screen during inter stimuli interval The next dialog window is used to select appropriate stimulus Fig 24 To xi Task Down Up Fig 24 7 Insert delay button Delay Fig 20 The next dialog window is used to define the duration of delay Fig 25 10 11 25 z Delay ms 200d Cancel Fig 25 Insert command Pause button Pause Fig 20 This command sends a special code to WinEEG program to temporary stop the da
45. y results of testing and to prepare final report The button Display List of Tasks is used to run build in editor of presentation protocols list The button Switch to Save Mode is used to start the slave mode in which the PSYTASK is waiting for a control and synchronization commands from WinEEG program that is working on another computer connected to this computer via COM port The button Setup Database is used to modify the database pathname to open another existing database or create new one The button Modify Synchronization Parameters is used to change parameters of COM port that is used for synchronization The button Quit is used to close PSYTASK program 5 Main definition Presentation protocol Different stimuli both visual and acoustic are presented during each task The subject should respond to presentation of stimuli by pressing a buttons or ignore them in dependence on subject task Each stimulus has its own file The file of visual stimulus is a file of pixel images such as BMP JPEG file The file of audio stimulus is a standard WAV file 8 The sequence of stimuli their expositions inter stimuli time intervals and types of subject responses are described in so named stimuli presentation protocol the file with extension PRO Each stimuli presentation protocol together with stimulus files is stored in the List of Tasks The description of each task includes usually a name of task simple text name of folder in which the
46. ynchronization of stimuli presentation can occur if the sound onset is very close to the visual stimulus offset There is no way to theoretically predict the possibility to run some of stimuli presentation protocol on any computer It depends on different factors That is why it is strong recommended to test each new stimuli presentation protocol and optimize its time limitation if it is necessary 32 8 How to start new task and carry out an investigation To start new task press button Start New Task in the main dialog window Fig 29 CI x pesceeceecsncenscencesssocencensensenscncnecescensensencenasnscsscoasencencsnsennensesossnssasensensceaenoesceseenee z Start New Task i Display Database Display List of Tasks Switch to Slave Mode Setup Database Modify Synchronisation Parameters Quit Fig 29 The next dialog window will appear on the screen Fig 30 Start Net Task x Task Name Tova Date 27 10 2004 Time 11 37 47 Subject Name Jhon Smith Birth Date 1072071990 Gender Male x Notes First observatior Cancel Fig 30 Fill in the following items of the subject s card Task Name is selected from the list by the keys Up and Down Date and Time of the investigation are set automatically However they should be checked and corrected if the calendar and clock of the computer are not set correctly Subject Name subject s name Date of birth
47. ysis Stimuli Presentation Programs command of WinEEG program 3 Click Update button If synchronization COM ports are defined correctly the progress bar will display a process of transferring of task protocols from PSYTASK program to WinEEG program Otherwise WinEEG program will report that the slave computer does not respond 4 Change the COM ports and their parameters if it is necessary using Modify Synchronization Parameters command of PSYTASK program and Setup Equipment configuration command of WinEEG program and perform 1 3 steps It is necessary to find correct combination of COM ports Attention It is necessary to perform steps 1 3 every time when the list of tasks or their parameters is changed in PSYTASK program Attention PSYTASK program is able to send correct task protocols Please be attentive and check new task protocols before updating list of protocols for WinEEG program There are different synchronization modes of PSYTASK program This mode depends on how the PSYTASK program will be used The field Synchronization mode is used to change synchronization mode The following modes can be selected 1 Don t send synchronization codes WinEEG control this mode is used if PSYTASK program works in Slave Mode together with WinEEG program In this case WinEEG program send control and synchronization code and PSYTASK program works automatically 2 Send synchronously with beginning
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