Dept of Neurophysiology -- Saccade with Electrical Stimulation Task Type Documentation

The Saccade with Electrical Stimulation Task Type (Task Type 7)

This task type is very much like the saccade task type, with the added feature that it delivers a direct electrical stimulation to the animal during the trial. This stimulation, or electrical pulse, is like the one that is generated when the user types the SP command option. The time of the stimulation is determined by the parameter elecstrt, which can be either positive or negative, and is measured from the end of the first stimulus. If positive, the stimulation occurs after the first stimulus ends. If negative, it occurs during the first stimulus. The trial process is illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1. -- Saccade with Electrical Stimulation Task Type

Explanation of terms for saccade with electrical stimulation tasks:

first stimulus Led1 or speaker1, or both. See spk1flg and led1sel parameters to disable one or both. In Figure 1., speaker1 is disabled.
second stimulus Led2 or speaker2, or both. See spk2flg and led2sel parameters to disable one or both. In Figure 1., both led2 and speaker2 are used.
DSS dur Duration of auditory stimulus (speaker2 above). It depends on the duration of the stimulus waveform, as stored in the DSS. It can be less than stim2dur, but not greater than it. See also stimtyp parameter.
elec stim Electrical stimuluation, or pulse, that is delivered to the animal.
SY Starting point of trial.
L1 Time that led1 and/or speaker1 turns on. See led1strt parameter.
W1 Time that animal spots into window of first stimulus.
S1 Time that the electrical stimulation pulse is delivered. It occurs at a time elecstrt, which is measured from the end of the led1 duration. In Figure 1, elecstrt is negative, and the stimulation occurs while led1 is on.
L2 Time that led2 and/or speaker2 turns on. See led2strt parameter. In Figure 1., led2strt is 0.
W2 Time that animal spots into window of second stimulus.
R Time that animal receives reward.
E End of trial.

Note that the starting time of the second stimulus, led2strt, is zero in Figure 1., but it could be set to a positive or negative number if desired by the user. This would turn the task type into a "delayed saccade" with an electrical stimulation. For detailed information on saccade trials, please see the descriptions of both the saccade task type and the delayed saccade task type.

In order to execute saccade with electrical stimulation trials, the user must set up the following files:

Fixed Parameter File - This file contains the list of parameters that retain the same values for all trials of a given run of the COM program. There are at least 50 parameters in this list, and they must be specified whenever COM is run. Here is an example of such a fixed parameter set.
Saccade with Electrical Stimulation Parameter File - This file contains the list of parameters that define a set of saccade trials. The user may specify one or more of these files, each containing a different saccade parameter set. Here is an example of one such parameter set.
Macro File - This file contains the list of parameter sets to be used for a run of the COM program. It must contain one fixed parameter file, and one or more parameter set files, as described above. Here is an example of one such macro file.

Note that while a given trial is being executed, the user can type one of several available commands. The program will complete the current trial (so as not to disturb the timing of the trial), and will then process the command that has been typed.

Com Program Documentation -- General
Saccade Task Type
Delayed Saccade Task Type
Electrical Stimulation Option (SP command)
Task Types
Glossary of Parameters -- definitions of all parameters used

If you have questions or comments about this documentation, please send email to jane@neurophys.wisc.edu

This page last modified on : June 26, 1996

first stimulus	Led1 or speaker1, or both. See spk1flg and led1sel parameters to disable one or both. In Figure 1., speaker1 is disabled.
second stimulus	Led2 or speaker2, or both. See spk2flg and led2sel parameters to disable one or both. In Figure 1., both led2 and speaker2 are used.
DSS dur	Duration of auditory stimulus (speaker2 above). It depends on the duration of the stimulus waveform, as stored in the DSS. It can be less than stim2dur, but not greater than it. See also stimtyp parameter.
elec stim	Electrical stimuluation, or pulse, that is delivered to the animal.
SY	Starting point of trial.
L1	Time that led1 and/or speaker1 turns on. See led1strt parameter.
W1	Time that animal spots into window of first stimulus.
S1	Time that the electrical stimulation pulse is delivered. It occurs at a time elecstrt, which is measured from the end of the led1 duration. In Figure 1, elecstrt is negative, and the stimulation occurs while led1 is on.
L2	Time that led2 and/or speaker2 turns on. See led2strt parameter. In Figure 1., led2strt is 0.
W2	Time that animal spots into window of second stimulus.
R	Time that animal receives reward.
E	End of trial.