Open-source raspberry Pi-based operant box for translational behavioral testing in rodents.

Microcontroller USB interfacing with MATLAB GUI for low cost medical ultrasound scanners

Studying animal behavior in the lab requires reliable delivering stimulations and monitoring responses. We constructed a comprehensive behavioral platform (ArControl: Arduino Control Platform) that was an affordable, easy-to-use, high-performance solution combined software and hardware components. The hardware component was consisted of an Arduino UNO board and a simple drive circuit. As for software, the ArControl provided a stand-alone and intuitive GUI (graphical user interface) application that did not require users to master scripts. The experiment data were automatically recorded with the built in DAQ (data acquisition) function. The ArControl also allowed the behavioral schedule to be entirely stored in and operated on the Arduino chip. This made the ArControl a genuine, real-time system with high temporal resolution (<1 ms). We tested the ArControl, based on strict performance measurements and two mice behavioral experiments. The results showed that the ArControl was an adaptive and reliable system suitable for behavioral research.

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ArControl: An Arduino-Based Comprehensive Behavioral Platform with Real-Time Performance.

We created an easy-to-use device for operant licking experiments and another device that records environmental variables. Both devices use the Raspberry Pi computer to obtain data from multiple input devices (e.g., radio frequency identification tag readers, touch and motion sensors, environmental sensors) and activate output devices (e.g., LED lights, syringe pumps) as needed. Data gathered from these devices are stored locally on the computer but can be automatically transferred to a remote server via a wireless network. We tested the operant device by training rats to obtain either sucrose or water under the control of a fixed ratio, a variable ratio, or a progressive ratio reinforcement schedule. The lick data demonstrated that the device has sufficient precision and time resolution to record the fast licking behavior of rats. Data from the environment monitoring device also showed reliable measurements. By providing the source code and 3D design under an open source license, we believe these examples will stimulate innovation in behavioral studies. The source code can be found at http://github.com/chen42/openbehavior.

An open source device for operant licking in rats.

We present in this paper the construction of an educational low-cost teslameter and its use for the magnetic field measurement of a system containing two coils. Our framework is based on the Arduino program and Smartphone application in an educational context. As a finding, we have obtained good agreement between the experimental results and those found using the theoretical model. These results are validated by the new technology based on the integration of Arduino platform and Smartphone application.

Development of an educational low-cost teslameter by using Arduino and Smartphone application

This note describes the design of a low-cost interface using Arduino microcontroller boards and Visual Basic programming for operant conditioning research. The board executes one program in Arduino programming language that polls the state of the inputs and generates outputs in an operant chamber. This program communicates through a USB port with another program written in Visual Basic 2010 Express Edition running on a laptop, desktop, netbook computer, or even a tablet equipped with Windows operating system. The Visual Basic program controls schedules of reinforcement and records real-time data. A single Arduino board can be used to control a total of 52 inputs/output lines, and multiple Arduino boards can be used to control multiple operant chambers. An external power supply and a series of micro relays are required to control 28-V DC devices commonly used in operant chambers. Instructions for downloading and using the programs to generate simple and concurrent schedules of reinforcement are provided. Testing suggests that the interface is reliable, accurate, and could serve as an inexpensive alternative to commercial equipment.

Low-cost USB interface for operant research using Arduino and Visual Basic.

Este trabajo describe una simplificacion en el diseno de la interfaz de bajo costo usando el puerto paralelo de una computadora y Visual Basic, disenada por Escobar y Lattal (2010). La simplificacion consistio en sustituir el conjunto de transistores y diodos que se usaban en el diseno original para controlar los relevadores electromecanicos con un arreglo de ocho pares de transistores Darlington (circuito integrado ULN 2803 A). Este diseno facilita considerablemente la instrumentacion y reduce el costo de la interfaz. Para probar el funcionamiento estable de la interfaz, se realizaron pruebas usando programas de reforzamiento encadenados de cuatro componentes con ratas como sujetos. Durante el desarrollo de estas pruebas la interfaz, ademas de permitir un registro preciso de los datos, funciono de manera estable en todas las sesiones experimentales. Nuestras pruebas muestran que la interfaz con el puerto paralelo puede usarse como un sustituto de bajo costo del equipo comercial

Nota técnica: diseño simplificado de una interfaz de bajo costo usando un puerto paralelo y visual basic

espanolEste trabajo describe una simplificacion en el diseno de la interfaz de bajo costo usando el puerto paralelo de una computadora y Visual Basic, disenada por Escobar y Lattal (2010). La simplificacion consistio en sustituir el conjunto de transistores y diodos que se usaban en el diseno original para controlar los relevadores electromecanicos con un arreglo de ocho pares de transistores Darlington (circuito integrado ULN 2803 A). Este diseno facilita considerablemente la instrumentacion y reduce el costo de la interfaz. Para probar el funcionamiento estable de la interfaz, se realizaron pruebas usando programas de reforzamiento encadenados de cuatro componentes con ratas como sujetos. Durante el desarrollo de estas pruebas la interfaz, ademas de permitir un registro preciso de los datos, funciono de manera estable en todas las sesiones experimentales. Nuestras pruebas muestran que la interfaz con el puerto paralelo puede usarse como un sustituto de bajo costo del equipo comercial. EnglishThis paper describes a simplified design of the interface using a computer's parallel port and Visual Basic designed by Escobar and Lattal (2010). An array of eight pairs of Darlington transistors (integrated circuit ULN 2803 A) replaced the diodes and transistors that were used in the original design for controlling each electromagnetic relay. The new design not only facilitates the instrumentation of the interface but also reduces its cost. Additionally, the stability of the interface was tested using chained schedules of reinforcement of four components in rats as subjects. During these tests, the interface allowed recording the responses with precision and worked consistently during all the experimental sessions. Our tests show that the parallel-port interface can be used as a low-cost replacement for commercial equipment.

Diseño simplificado de una interfaz de bajo costo usando un puerto paralelo y Visual Basic: Nota técnica

Se describe la construccion de palancas retractiles usando los arreglos de motores a pasos, tornillos sin fin y controladores para motores que se encuentran dentro de las unidades de disco de 3.5 pulgadas ( floppy disk ). Estas unidades que actualmente estan en desuso pueden encontrarse con relativa facilidad en computadoras desechadas con un bajo costo. Adicionalmente se describen las conexiones para controlar dichas palancas retractiles por medio de una interfaz con un puerto paralelo usando programacion en Visual Basic® Express Edition .

Palanca retráctil de bajo costo para interfaces con puerto paralelo y visual basic

This paper describes the construction of retractable levers using the array of a stepper motor, a worm drive, and a motor controller that can be found as part of the mechanism of 3.5” floppy disk reader. These inexpensive and now obsolete disk readers can be found with relative ease in old computers. The paper describes the electrical connections used to control the levers by means of a parallel port interface with Visual Basic® Express Edition programming.

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Palanca retráctil de bajo costo para interfaces con puerto paralelo y visual basic® low-cost retractable lever for parallel port interfaces with visual basic®

Carlos A. Pérez-Herrera

Papers

Low-cost USB interface for operant research using Arduino and Visual Basic.

Nota técnica: diseño simplificado de una interfaz de bajo costo usando un puerto paralelo y visual basic

Diseño simplificado de una interfaz de bajo costo usando un puerto paralelo y Visual Basic: Nota técnica

Palanca retráctil de bajo costo para interfaces con puerto paralelo y visual basic

Palanca retráctil de bajo costo para interfaces con puerto paralelo y visual basic® low-cost retractable lever for parallel port interfaces with visual basic®