TTL outputs to another device

Samira

Dear all,
I am currently using the function Operant.m and I would like to send 2 output triggers to another device in order to know when the mouse is poking either in port 1 or port 2.
Could you please help me?
Samira

Josh

Hello Samira,

To add two TTL outputs indicating left and right pokes respectively to the Operant protocol, you'll need to modify the state flow. In the WaitForPoke1, WaitForPoke2 and WaitForPoke3 states, route Port1In and Port3In events to intermediate states that set the BNC line high for enough time to be captured by your device. From the intermediate state, proceed to stateOnLeftPokeN and stateOnRightPokeN.

Please let me know if this works for you.

Thanks,
Josh

Samira

Hi Josh,
Thank you for your answer!
I tried this (please see below) in the Operant protocol but I did not see the BNC line in my device.. :
switch TrialTypes(currentTrial) % Determine trial-specific state matrix fields
case 1
StateOnLeftPoke1 = 'LeftReward'; StateOnRightPoke1 = 'RightReward';
StateOnLeftPoke2 = 'LeftReward'; StateOnRightPoke2 = 'RightReward';
stimulusOutput1 = {'BNC1', '1'};
case 2
StateOnLeftPoke1 = 'WaitForPokeOut1'; StateOnRightPoke1 = 'WaitForPokeOut1';
StateOnLeftPoke2 = 'LeftReward'; StateOnRightPoke2 = 'RightReward';
stimulusOutput2 = {'BNC1', '0'};
case 3
StateOnLeftPoke1 = 'WaitForPokeOut1'; StateOnRightPoke1 = 'WaitForPokeOut1';
StateOnLeftPoke2 = 'WaitForPokeOut2'; StateOnRightPoke2 = 'WaitForPokeOut2';
stimulusOutput3 = {'BNC2', '1'};
end
sma = NewStateMatrix(); % Assemble state matrix
sma = AddState(sma, 'Name', 'WaitForPoke1', ...
'Timer', 0,...
'StateChangeConditions', {'Port1In', StateOnLeftPoke1, 'Port3In', StateOnRightPoke1},...
'OutputActions', stimulusOutput1);

Can you tell me please what is missing/wrong?
Thank you in advance,
Samira

Josh

Hello Samira,

In your switch/case block, you've set stimulusOutput to depend on trial type:
1: BNC1 High
2: BNC1 Low
3: BNC2 High

This should set BNC1 high the moment you start trial type 1, and BNC2 high the moment you start trial type 3, which is not what you had in mind. Instead of changing the outputs of WaitForPoke1, you'll need to set the outputs of the states that are entered when a left poke and right poke are detected. In the state following a left poke, set BNC1 high. In the state following a right poke, set BNC2 high. The lines will automatically be set low on entering the subsequent state.

I hope this helps,
Josh

Samira

Hi Josh,
Thank you, yes it helps but I still don't get what I want.. I tried these lines:
sma = AddState(sma, 'Name', 'LeftPoke', ...
'Timer', 1,...
'StateChangeConditions', {'Tup','Port1In'},...
'OutputActions', {'BNC1', 1});
sma = AddState(sma, 'Name', 'RightPoke', ...
'Timer', 1,...
'StateChangeConditions', {'Tup','Port3In'},...
'OutputActions', {'BNC2', 1});
What should I write..?
Samira

Josh

Hello Samira,

'LeftPoke' is not a state in the Operant protocol, so I'm not sure how this fits in to the overall state flow.

In your StateChangeConditions section of AddState(), you have a pair of events: {'Tup, 'Port1In'}. Each event must be followed by the name of the state to move to if that event happens, e.g. {'Tup', 'MyState1', 'Port1In', 'MyState2'}

It would be helpful to work through the example state machines in /Examples/State Machines/ to understand how the flow of states is set up to create your trial.

-Josh