VARIABLE SCHEDULE
Contents
1. Fixed Interval 3 Variable Ratio and 4 Variable Interval 0 1 000 2 000 3 000 4 000 Array T Array T contains the list of stimulus locations for each trial 4 Left Light and 5 Right Light if the hardware is connected as recommended in the program oO 4 000 5 000 4 000 5 000 6 4 000 5 000 4 000 5 000 Array U Array U contains the list of stimulus durations in MED Ticks each trial e 6000 000 6000 000 6000 000 6000 000 6 6000 000 6000 000 6000 000 6000 000 Array V Array V contains the list of Inter Trial Interval values in intervals for each trial V 0 18000 000 18000 000 18000 000 18000 000 6 18000 000 18000 0000 18000 000 Array W Array W contains the list of Variable Interval values in intervals 0 300 000 500 000 700 000 900 000 Array X Array X contains the list of Variable Ratio Values QO 1 000 3 000 5 000 7 000 4 000 5 000 or 0 01 second intervals for 6000 000 6000 000 MED Ticks or 0 01 second 18000 000 18000 000 MED Ticks or 0 01 second 1000 000 10 000 Array Y Array contains the list of Fixed Interval Values in MED Ticks or 0 01 second intervals QO 300 000 700 000 500 000 900 000 1000 000 Array Z Array Z contains the list of Fixed Ratio values 0 1 000 3 000 5 000 7 000 10 0002. K i M N oO 0 000 0 000 0 000 0 000 0 000 pgn P Q R 0 000 0 000 0 000 S Array T Array Issue U Array Y Array W Array X Array Y Array Close 2 Array Help Display Data from Box Additional Boxes to Update C from Box 1 QE 1 0 000 A Select All Deselect All The value of any simple variable may be viewed from this screen by clicking an array on the table and each element in that array can be viewed as shown in Figure 3 12 To change a value simply highlight and replace the value in the lower right hand box or use the up down arrows to increment by 1 Click the Issue button for the change to take effect Click Named Variables to produce the display in Figure 3 13 Change variables here as needed MED ASSOCIATES INC VARIABLE SCHEDULE Figure 3 12 Displaying Array from Box 1 Displaying Array from Box 1 Figure 3 13 Displaying Named Variables from Box 1 i Displaying Named Variables from Box 1 8 080 Number of Trials 10 000 240 00 180 000 12 Macros The simplest way to initially create a macro is to record keyboard functions while performing the steps manually Once the commands are in the macro it is easy to create a number of macros with the macro editor The following example illustrates the process of loading Box 1 and changing the Number of Trials to 20 To begin open MED PC IV and going directly to the run time screen Close the load wizard if present Before
3. YS_Subjecti_Groupl Click Next to finish loading the box or Previous to correct errors MED ASSOCIATES INC VARIABLE SCHEDULE The Alter Session Parameters Screen shown in Figure 3 7 is the next screen to appear and is an important screen for the researcher The Alter Session Parameters screen allows the researcher to alter the parameters by which a procedure executes The Send Start Command Screen appears next The options available on the screen vary depending upon how many boxes are described in the Hardware Configuration Figure 3 7 Alter Session Parameters Screen Reward Pellet 1 Dipper 2 Drug 3 Reward Time sec Number of Trials Pre Adapt Period sec Post Adapt Period sec In this example only one box is described in the Hardware Configuration so Figure 3 8 will appear next If more than one box is in the Hardware Configuration then Figure 3 9 will appear Figure 3 8 Send Start Command Screen for Single Box Configuration MED ASSOCIATES INC VARIABLE SCHEDULE Figure 3 9 Send Start Command Screen for Multiple Box Configuration In both cases Figure 3 8 and Figure 3 9 the screens are where the researcher decides to either load more boxes send a start signal to boxes that are already loaded or enter the MED PC IV run time environment without sending a start signal by selecting am finished with the wizard This option results in the screen sh
4. above do the following Open Trans IV and select File Open to place Variable Schedule mpc into the text editor Scroll down to approximately line 196 note the line counter in the lower right hand corner of the editor to reveal the code shown in Figure 3 15 Figure 3 15 Variable Schedule mpc Line 196 ES TRANS IV C MED PC IV MPCWariable Schedule mpc fay File Edit Search Options Translation Window Help TREAT A AAA ATTA AAA TARA AAA AAA AAT RAAT RAAT AAA EEEE 0 001 SET A Reward 1 A RewardTime 0 05 A NumTrials SET A Preddapt 240 A PostAdapt 180 gt 52 Change A NumTrials 10 to A NumTrials 20 and save the changes with the same or a new file name such as VS _ 20Trials mpc Remember if creating a new mpc file name and are using a macro to load boxes the file name in the macro also must be changed Translate and compile the new or changed file as described previously and run MED PC IV Use the Change Variables screen to view confirm the new values CHAPTER 4 Understanding the Data Files Unless otherwise specified data will be saved to C MED PC IV DATA Data can be saved manually by selecting FILE SAVE DATA MANUALLY or FILE SAVE DATA FLUSH The file name that is used to save the data in depends on the option that was chosen in the Hardware Configuration Utility and may also be dependent on the Subject Experiment and Group name provided in the MED PC IV load wizard Within each data file
5. 000 2 000 0 000 1 000 4 000 5 000 18 3 000 3 000 13 000 3 000 18 000 2 000 24 4 000 4 000 5 000 5 000 6 000 8 000 30 5 000 1 000 18 000 8 000 12 000 3 000 36 6 000 2 000 3 000 2 000 4 000 3 000 42 7 000 3 000 5 000 3 000 26 000 7 000 48 8 000 4 000 2 000 3 000 6 000 9 000 54 9 000 1 000 8 000 7 000 18 000 0 000 60 10 000 2 000 4 000 6 000 8 000 4 000 S 0 1 000 2 000 3 000 4 000 T3 0 4 000 5 000 4 000 5 000 4 000 5 000 6 4 000 5 000 4 000 5 000 U 0 6000 000 6000 000 6000 000 6000 000 6000 000 6000 000 6 6000 000 6000 000 6000 000 6000 000 V 0 18000 000 18000 000 18000 000 18000 000 18000 000 18000 000 6 18000 000 18000 000 18000 000 W 0 300 000 500 000 700 000 900 000 1000 000 X 0 1 000 3 000 5 000 7 000 10 000 Yi 0 300 000 700 000 500 000 900 000 1000 000 Z 0 1 000 3 000 5 000 7 000 10 000 Breakdown of Sample File Simple Variables The following simple variables are shown immediately following the header information C 0 000 Ratio Counter D 5 000 Value Drawn from List E 3240 000 Elapsed Time in Session F 0 000 Not Used G 6000 000 Value Drawn from List H 500 000 Value Drawn from List I 2 000 Index Into Trial Types Array S J 10 000 Index Into Stimulus Location Array T K 10 000 Index Into Stimulus Duration Array U L 9 000 Index Into Inter Trial Interval Values Array V M 0 000 Not Used N 0 000 Not Used O 3 000 Index Into Fixed Interval Array Y P 3 000 Index Into Fixed Ratio A
6. 2 Dipper 3 Drug 1 Reward Time seconds 0 05 Number of Trials 10 Pre Adapt Period seconds 240 Post Adapt Period seconds 180 Program Example The following is an example of how the LIST statements work using the default values in the program Trial 1 S 0 1 Fixed Ratio T 0 4 Left Stim Light Left Lever Correct U 0 60 60 second PreCS CS period v 0 180 180 second ITI Z 0 1 FR 1 schedule Trial 2 S 1 2 Fixed Interval T 1 4 Left Stim Light Left Lever Correct U 1 60 60 second PreCS CS period V 1 180 180 second ITI 0 10 FI 10 second schedule Notice that Trial 1 uses Z 0 and Trial 2 uses Y 0 If Trial 3 were another FR schedule then it would use the values in S 2 T 2 U 2 V 2 and Z 1 If Trial 4 was a VR schedule then it would use the values in S 3 T 3 U 3 V 3 and a value s would be drawn randomly from LIST X The program will pull the value from each LIST in order If the end of the LIST is reached then it will start over from element 0 again The only two exceptions is the Variable Ratio X and Variable Interval W LISTs The values from those two LISTs will be drawn from randomly CHAPTER 2 Getting Started Software Installation Please refer to the MED PC IV User s Manual for a complete guide to installing the MED PC IV software building a valid Hardware configuration with the Hardware Configuration utility and opening and compilin
7. This is where the application to be run is selected The screen displays a list of all the currently compiled procedures Select the desired procedure and then click Next Figure 3 4 The Select a Procedure Screen NES ECS EE MED ASSOCIATES INC VARIABLE SCHEDULE The Enter Experiment Data Screen should display next as shown in Figure 3 5 The purpose of this screen is to allow annotations to be added to the data file that is produced by MED PC IV These annotations will help identify the Subject Experiment and Experiment Group upon which data was collected Comments can be added here as well and the data file can be given a customized file name to help identify it from other data files Enter the information desired and click Next Figure 3 5 Enter Experiment Data Screen Subje ct Subject_1 Experiment Variable_Schedule_1 Group Group 1 Comments Variable_S chedule_Experiment Optional Custom Filename S_Subject _Group NES ES E The next screen to appear is the Review Choices screen as seen in Figure 3 6 Thisis a method of confirming that the information received from the Box Procedure Selected is correct If it is not correct select Previous and edit the data If it is correct select Next Figure 3 6 Review Choices Screen Review the data below Box 1 Procedure VARIABLE SCHEDULE Subject Subject_1 Experiment Variable_Schedule_1 Group Group_1 Comment Variable_Schedule_Experiment Filename
8. VARI ABLE SCHEDULE MED STATE NOTATION PROCEDURE SOF 700RA 18 Manual DOC 139 Rev 1 1 Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved MED Associates Inc P O Box 319 St Albans Vermont 05478 www med associates com MED ASSOCIATES INC VARIABLE SCHEDULE TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter L s ssssssssssnsssonsaneensensensenaansassasascssnsassscssnsaces n at se sa sasu s 1 LEO GU COON ER A NAE Ga vat wee Pian te A Penn ut 1 Overview of the Procedures n trn rn EREA ER EE REEEEE EEEa 2 Control Variables esirin aor aaa tetas E AEREN OEE RR I TAE L N ENE 2 Program EXamp le enerne i AEE EE i A ai 2 Chapter EPP mnnn 4 Getting Start dse rssioanersi deena e aa eed 4 Software nstallati M esnsrcesneni nanaon anaa AREE a raaa TTAN RA i ea S Ea 4 Backing Up the Software issues Gaede a aean Ria needed ia 4 Chapter 3 PPT nnmnnn 5 Beginning amp Running an Experiment 5 Translating the MED PC IV mpc File 5 Using the MED PC IV Load Wizard 6 Viewing Changing Variable Values cece eee eee e eee eee eee teeta eee 11 MACROS ie E E cute Cas OU de en dede E 13 Modifying the MedState Notation Code cccccccccesececeeeeeeeeeeesseeeeeeeeseeneeeeeeeaes 14 Chapter ssssassnsssssassnsssesausaensastassssansanesenaneapetasiassansasnensencesnes 15 Understanding the Data Files ssssssamasstnismidaasinuannutmnminanmautieunts 15 Sample Data Filey sis unsigned deta a dda stealuead esd AEEA 15 Break
9. ation Data file structure file saving format and other related options are also determined by the Hardware Configuration Running the Hardware Configuration software utility that accompanies MED PC IV sets the Hardware Configuration Its purpose is to assign the inputs and outputs on the interface cards in the interface cabinet for each task controlled by MED PC IV The particular type of interface card that is supplied in the interface cabinet may vary please refer to the User s Manual provided for instructions on how to configure the type of card that is in the cabinet A valid Hardware Configuration must exist in order for MED PC IV to interface correctly with the MED Associates Inc hardware This means that one should take the time to create a valid Hardware Configuration before attempting to run the procedures included in this package Should there be any problems the staff at MED Associates Inc is available to answer any questions that may arise Please e mail us at support med associates com with a detailed description of the problem or desired goals so that concise and detailed information may be provided The Variable Schedule procedure is designed to be as easy to use as possible MED Associates Inc understands that researchers do not have the time to devote to programming and hardware design and for that reason we have undertaken that burden for you We sincerely hope that you are satisfied with the products and services we pro
10. down of Sample File Simple Variables snc 16 Breakdown of Sample File ArrayS c cece need 16 MED ASSOCIATES INC VARIABLE SCHEDULE CHAPTER 1 Introduction The purpose of this manual is to give an explanation of the MED State Notation Procedures that comprise the SOF 700RA 18 Variable Schedule Procedure The files in this package can be found on the disk provided by MED Associates Inc These procedures are intended to be run in MED Associates MED PC IV software The latest version of MED PC IV gives researchers the ability to use pre programmed procedures such as these to make hardware control and data collection easy These pre programmed procedures can also be modified to meet the evolving demands of a research protocol Again it is the intent of this manual to explain exactly what these procedures implement and provide guidance into how to interpret what the program code achieves in order to let the user determine how to modify them to match their research protocol demands The manual provides some examples of editing and modifying the procedure s programming code The manual also defines the elements in the raw data file produced by these procedures In addition to this manual refer to the MED PC IV User s Manual for the installation of the MED Associates interface drivers the MED PC IV Software and the Delphi Compiler Also refer to the User s Manual for instructions on developing a Hardware Configur
11. e mpc Build No Trans Exclude J OK X Cancel Help MED ASSOCIATES INC VARIABLE SCHEDULE Using the MED PC IV Load Wizard MED PC IV is designed to help the researcher run an experiment by guiding selection choices through its Experiment Loading Wizard This section will describe how to initiate the Variable Schedule mpc application however the following steps that will also apply to all other mpc procedures Open MED PC IV and the MED PC Experiment Loading Wizard s Welcome screen shown in Figure 3 2 will appear Figure 3 2 The MED PC IV Loading Wizard Welcome Screen To avoid this load wizard deselect the checkbox labeled Run this experiment automatically when starting MED PC Close this screen by clicking the Close button Closing this screen immediately reveals the MED PC Run Time Screen shown in Figure 3 9 If the choice to continue with the Loading Wizard is made then click the Next button MED ASSOCIATES INC VARIABLE SCHEDULE The Box Selection screen will appear next as shown in Figure 3 3 From this screen the researcher chooses which boxes will be used in the experiment Select the boxes that will run the experiment by clicking in the radio button next to the box number The figure shows that the Hardware Configuration included only 1 box which was selected Click Next to continue Figure 3 3 The Box Selection Screen The Select a Procedure screen appears next as seen in Figure 3 4
12. g a MSN procedure in the Trans IV utility To install the Variable Schedule Procedure insert the CD into the CD ROM drive and click Install the Variable Schedule Software The procedure is copied into the C MED PC IV MPC folder Backing Up the Software Med Associates strongly encourages creating backup copies of the programs in case of disk failure Having copies of the original programs may be useful in the future should modifications be made to the existing programs CHAPTER 3 Beginning amp Running an Experiment Translating the MED PC IV mpc File Programs written in MedState Notation must be translated using Trans IV before they can be executed in this application Be sure that a copy of the file being translated is present in the directory C MED PC IV MPC Open Trans IV icon and select Translation Translate and Compile Select the program s to use for the experiment and click Make Click OK to start the translator and it will automatically parse the MedState Notation and then open to a DOS screen to compile the Pascal code Depending on the speed of the computer each of these steps may not be seen If any problems are encountered during this process refer to the on screen help menu or the MED PC Version IV User s Manual or contact MED Associates Inc for assistance Figure 3 1 Trans IV Control Panel for Translating and Compiling MedState Notation Code fi Specify Files to Translate DER Variable Schedul
13. loading or opening the procedure click Macro on the main menu and select Turn On Macro Recorder or click the 8th tool bar item with the cassette tape icon on top A note on the bottom of the display indicates that the recorder is running Open Variable Schedule mpc by clicking Files Open Session Change the variables using any of the methods described above When all settings have been made turn the recorder off again by using the main menu or tool bar Save the macro with a distinctive name The example in Figure 3 14 was named VS 20Trials mac since the Number of Trials was changed to 20 Figure 3 14 VS 20Trials mac P VS_20Trials MAC Notepad File Edit Format View Help LOAD BOX 1 SUBJ EXPT 0 GROUP PROGRAM VARIABLE SCHEDULE SET Number of Trials VALUE 20 MAINEOX 1 BOXES Once this macro is built use the macro editor to make simple changes such as replacing reward or correct lever values Review the Help file on screen or the MED PC IV User s Manual for more information on macros and the features offered A START command or message box followed by a START command could be added to the macro it was left off here so changes could be verified before starting the procedure MED ASSOCIATES INC VARIABLE SCHEDULE Modifying the MedState Notation Code Permanent changes to the Variable Schedule procedure can be made to the MedState Notation code To make the same change to the Number of Trials to 20 as shown
14. own in Figure 3 10 Figure 3 10 The MED PC IV Run Time Screen BEE MED PC IV File Configure View Macros Help aloje xal S am 3 2 Box Subject Experiment Group Load Program Subj m iable S E EN 3 4 Js fe 7 EN EN fof A a 9 6 a A Reward Type SHOWS 11_15 SHOWS 16_20 SHOWS 21_25 SS e eet Se ee eee SS SSS 1 00 Reward Time 0 05 Trials 10 00 Pre dapt 240 00 Post Adapt ET on A File A Wizard for Loading Boxes e 2 Open Session Ctrl O 1 9 2009 3 30 30 PM 10 lt MED ASSOCIATES INC VARIABLE SCHEDULE Viewing Changing Variable Values Before a start command has been issued any variable may be changed on the MED PC IV run time screen Simply highlight the value to change and then enter the new value Once a session is in progress change variables by selecting Configure Change Variables or click the 4th tool bar item AX In the lower left hand corner of the Change Variables window find the Display Data from Box display and choose the chamber s to modify By clicking additional boxes in the Additional Boxes to Update section changes made to a single box are automatically loaded to all of the selected boxes Figure 3 11 Changing Variables Screen Displaying Variables from Box 1 C D A Array BEE 0 000 0 000 0 000 i _Naned Vas F G H k J Vars 0 000 0 000 0 000 0 000 0 000
15. pt Pellet 1 Reward Time Number of Period in MED Period in MED Dipper 2 in MED Ticks Trials Ticks Ticks Row Marker Drug 3 0 1 000 5 000 10 000 24000 000 18000 000 Array B Array B contains the trial data Elements B 0 through B 5 contain the session data Elements for Total Responses Total Correct Responses and Incorrect Response will be incremented according to animal s responses as session runs The Final Total Percent Correct Final Total Percent Incorrect and Final Total Rewards are calculated when the trial is completed Elements B Q through B Q 5 contain the trial data B 0 B 1 B 2 B 3 B 4 B 5 Total Row Total Total Correct incorrect Final Total Final Total Final Total Marker Responses Responses Responses Correct Incorrect Rewards 0 259 000 174 000 85 000 67 181 32 819 81 000 B Q B Q 1 B Q 2 B Q 3 B Q 4 B Q 5 Trial Number A de Correct ee CS Correct CS Incorrect 3 VR 4 VI esponses Responses Responses Responses 6 1 000 1 000 11 000 3 000 3 000 3 000 12 2 000 2 000 0 000 1 000 4 000 5 000 18 3 000 3 000 13 000 3 000 18 000 2 000 24 4 000 4 000 5 000 5 000 6 000 8 000 30 5 000 1 000 18 000 8 000 12 000 3 000 36 6 000 2 000 3 000 2 000 4 000 3 000 42 7 000 3 000 5 000 3 000 26 000 7 000 48 8 000 4 000 2 000 3 000 6 000 9 000 54 9 000 1 000 8 000 7 000 18 000 0 000 60 10 000 2 000 4 000 6 000 8 000 4 000 Array S Array S contains the list of trial types to be run 1 Fixed Ratio 2
16. rray Z Q 60 000 Index Into Trial by Trial Data Array B R 10 000 Trial Counter Breakdown of Sample File Arrays The arrays are presented in rows of 6 elements each The first row begins with element 0 and ends with element 5 the second row begins with element 6 and ends with element 11 etc Each row begins with an element marker followed by a colon 0 6 12 18 24 etc Size of Array B was set to 10000 with the DIM command which means that Array B was defined for 10001 data points Under MED PC Version IV this array may be enlarged up to 1 million elements however 10 000 was felt to be adequate for this application An end of array seal 987 987 will limit the saved file to only those elements used during the running of the procedure Each array has been defined in the comments section at the beginning of the mpc file That information was used to add the following labels to each array The lines were expanded to make room for the labels Refer to the MPC2XL User s Manual for producing labeled data files with all or just some of the information below Array A Array A contains the control variable values The values are preset to default values in State Set 1 State 1 They are displayed as named variables and can be changed by any of the methods described previously Once a session is started these values should not be changed to ensure the integrity of the experiment A 0 A 1 A 2 A 3 A 4 Reward Pre Adapt Post Ada
17. the headings are created for each Subject Experiment Group Box etc see below Data files may be opened with note pad word pad or any word processor or spreadsheet however be sure they are always saved unformatted in case a data extraction utility such as MED PC to Excel might ever be used Data file formats are explained in detail in the MED PC IV User s Manual Sample Data File Select Annotated on the file options page during hardware installation to produce a raw data file similar to the following Data files are located in C MED PC IV Data unless an alternate path was defined during hardware installation They may be opened with note pad word pad or any word processor however make sure they are always saved unformatted in the occasion a data extraction utility such as MPC2XL is used The header information should be self explanatory Data file formats are explained in detail in the MED PC IV User s Manual File C MED PC IV DATA 2009 01 09 Start Date 01 09 09 End Date 01 09 09 Subject 0 Experiment 0 Group 0 Box 1 Start Time 15 53 24 End Time 16 58 12 MSN Variable Schedule Cy 0 000 5 000 3240 000 0 000 6000 000 500 000 2 000 10 000 10 000 000 0 000 000 000 000 000 000 amp W D gt DOVOSZESOAGHEROAAAY ha Le QO 1 000 5 000 10 000 24000 000 18000 000 0 259 000 174 000 85 000 67 181 32 819 81 000 6 1 000 1 000 11 000 3 000 3 000 3 000 12 2
18. vide and look forward to meeting your future experimental needs as your research program evolves Overview of the Procedures This is a Variable Schedule program written for MED PC IV Through a series of LIST statements the user may select between Fixed Ratio FR Fixed Interval FI Variable Ratio VR and Variable Interval VI Schedules to run The LIST statements allow the user to select what the values for each Schedule type will be how long each Schedule Trial will run how long the Interval between each Schedule Trial is and which Lever is the Correct Lever for that Trial by use of the Stimulus Location The Correct Lever and the Stimulus Location must match For each Trial there is a PreCS and a CS period The PreCS and CS period are always the same length The correct response s on the Correct Lever during either period gives a reward There is no reward given during the Inter Trial Interval ITI or the Pre Post Adapt periods Any responses during the PreCS period are discarded when the CS period starts So if the program is running an FR 10 schedule and the animal has 4 responses when the program switches to the CS period the 4 responses are discarded and the animal must start over to meet the FR 10 schedule The same schedule is run during the PreCS and CS periods i e A VR 5 is run during the PreCS and then restarted during the CS period Control Variables Variable Name peru Value Reward 1 Pellet
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