MedState Notation™ Procedures
Med Associates has always offered MedState Notation™ code for those users that want to collect data immediately, without first learning this popular text-based language. Several of the more popular procedures resulted in inexpensive, standard catalog items. With the expanded features of MED-PC® IV, we can now offer off-the-shelf MedState Notation™ source code that runs like an advanced custom application. The user will still have the ability to modify and/or expand upon the basic code; however, an operator having absolutely no programming skills may run the procedure and change key control parameters. The combination of MED-PC® IV with a ready-to-run procedure produces the first behavioral control system that truly requires no programming-not even table programming, which may at first appear simple, but inevitably becomes more complex than a text based language such as MED-PC® IV.
SOF-700LA-1
MedLab® 8 Package
This set of eight schedules, FR, FI, VR, VI, RR, RI, DISC, and CHAIN, were written for operant chambers with minimum configurations. Each MedState Notation procedure is modifiable by the user to meet specific hardware or research requirements. This package is a useful supplement to the sample programs included with MED-PC®, with state sets for session timing, response counting, and for creating IRT and event time arrays for a SoftCr cumulative record.
This package consists of five MedState Notation™ procedures that are well suited for a research or student lab. Dr. Steven Dworkin designed these procedures. The procedures are for the following schedules:
- Fixed Ratio (FR x)
- Fixed Interval (FI x)
- Differential Reinforcement of Zero Responding (DRO)
- Inter-Response Time Less (IRT < x)
- Inter-Response Time Greater (IRT > x)
The procedures all make use of MED-PC
® IV's named variables to make running and modifying the schedules very straightforward. For example, the Fixed Interval procedure uses the following named variables:
- Correct Lever (L=1 R=2)
- Reward (Pellet=1 Dipper=2 Drug=3)
- Reward Time (sec)
- Time Out Following Reward (sec)
- Session Time (min)
- Fixed Interval Value
- Maximum Reinforcers
- SoftCr Data Array (Yes=1 No=0)
The trial data are conveniently stored in an array that prints out in a one row per trial format. Similar data are collected in all the procedures. For example, the data collected in the fixed interval procedure include:
- Total Responses
- Correct Response Count
- Incorrect Response Count
- % Correct
- % Incorrect
- Trial Number
- Correct Responses
- Incorrect Responses
- Pause Time (sec)
- Run Time (sec)
SOF-700RA-1
FR Training Procedure
Install the FR Training Procedure and the Load Wizard presents a detailed list of session parameters. From this one window, the user may select the left or right lever for reward, select an appropriate dispenser and reward time out if desired, determine the session time and ratio value, and turn the optional cumulative record data collection feature on or off. The default settings shown make the left lever correct with pellet reward. The dispenser is activated for 50 ms. Session time runs for 60 minutes with a fixed ratio of 1 and the SoftCr™ data array is activated. Any of these parameters may be easily changed to accommodate a number of standard operant and drug discrimination procedures.
SOF-700RA-2
Progressive Ratio
Select the Progressive Ratio procedure and the Load Wizard presents a detailed list of session parameters. From this window, the user may select the left or right lever for reward, select an appropriate device for dispensing the reward and the reward time, set a time out following the reward if desired, set the session time, select between a step or list progressive ratio, set the starting value and step value for a step progressive ratio, set the progressive ratio frequency, and turn the optional cumulative record data collection feature on or off. Any of these parameters may be easily changed to accommodate a number of progressive ratio procedures.
SOF-700RA-3
Elevated Maze Data Collection
The Elevated Plus Maze Data Collection software package contains two Medstate Notation™ procedures. One defines the runway time as the moment the subject starts exploring the runway. The other requires the subject to clear both photobeams in the runway before the runway time is counted. Select either Elevated Plus Maze procedure and the Load Wizard presents a detailed list of session parameters. From this window, the user may set the session time and start delay. The default settings make the session time 15 minutes and the start delay 5 seconds. Data collection includes the number of explorations and entrances into the open and closed runways and the time spent in the open and closed runways. Also included is the number of full entrances into each of the four runways.
SOF-700RA-4
Place Preference Data Collection
In the Place Preference Test with auto guillotine doors and ceiling lights, all lights are on when the procedure is loaded for adjustment and testing. When the start command is issued, all lights are turned off. Following the acclimation period, the doors are automatically opened and the lights turned on. Doors are closed and lights turned off following the session time.
In the Place Preference Test with manual guillotine doors and ceiling lights, the computer's speaker is used to signal the end of the acclimation and test periods. It will turn off automatically in 5 seconds, which may be modified as desired by the user, or it may be turned off with menu item "Shut Off Beep" under the Configure menu.
Select either Place Preference procedure and the Load Wizard presents a detailed list of session parameters. From this window, the user may set the adaption time, test time, and bin size. The default settings shown make the adaption time 5 minutes, session time 15 minutes, and the bin size 60 seconds.
Data collection includes Exploration Counts (breaks of the first beam of an adjacent chamber), Entrance Counts (beam breaks beyond the first in an adjacent chamber), Activity Counts (any beam break within the current chamber), Movement Counts (a change in the beam broken in the current chamber), and Zone Time in each chamber.
SOF-700RA-5
Intracranial Self Stimulation (ICSS) Procedures
The following procedures have been replicated in MedState Notation™ code to run on MED-PC® IV Behavioral Control Systems. This source code may be used as is, or modified by the user to meet specific research demands. REWARD.mpc is a discrete trial method of ICSS threshold measurement written originally for Dr. Conan Kornetsky, Boston University, School of Medicine. Five trial blocks are presented in descending order until the animal meets an established criteria followed by five trial blocks in ascending order. The default number of columns run in this manner is four. In the REWARD procedure, contingent and non-contingent stimulations are equal. DETECTION.mpc holds the rewarding or response-contingent stimulation constant. Both are described in Kornetsky, Conan and Bain, George, Modern Methods in Pharmacology, Vol. 6, Testing and Evaluation of Drugs of Abuse, Brain-Stimulation Reward: A Model for Drug-Induced Euphoria, pp. 211-231.
Custom MedState Notation™ is also available. For example, a stepwise titration of frequency procedure was written similar to J.L. Moreau, F. Jenck, J.R. Martin, P. Mortas and W.E. Haefely, European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2, (1992), pp. 43-49. This is an FR1 schedule that holds current constant while frequency steps from 70 Hz to 30 Hz and back again in 10 Hz steps every two minutes. Another example is an autotitration of current procedure that holds frequency constant similar to Geoffrey K. Mumford, Darryl B. Neill, and Stephen G. Holtzman, Brain Research, 459 (1988), pp. 163-167. This procedure requires two active levers. Starting current is set individually for each animal. One lever delivers stimulation that decreases 3 µA following every fifth reinforcement. The second lever resets the amplitude value back to the original starting current.
SOF-700RA-6
Radial Arm Maze Data Collection
The Radial Arm Maze procedure provides for a user-defined adaptation time and session test time. The test session is also ended when the animal has fully explored all eight runways. The standard data collection includes the number of entries and time in zone for the hub and all eight runways as well as "end counts" in each runway. Additional data includes total runways correct, total runway errors, the sequence of runways entered, and the elapsed time in seconds to runway completion.
SOF-700RA-7
Shuttle Box Avoidance Package—Includes 7, 13 and 11
Active
The Shuttle Box Active Avoidance procedure is written for systems with eight I/R photobeam sensors, separate left and right light and tone, and either with or without an auto guillotine door. By default, each trial presents both stimuli for five seconds followed by a maximum 25 second aversive stimulation escape interval while the stimuli remain on. The mean ITI interval is 15 seconds and it presents 50 trials. The total session time is set at 60 minutes, however, given the above parameters the test will always end in less than an hour.
Select the Shuttle Box Avoidance procedure and the Load Wizard presents a detailed list of session parameters. From this window, the user may set the number of trials to run, select the stimuli to use, set the avoid and escape intervals, enable the CS/UCS overlap and punish ITI crossings flags, and set the maximum session time.
A row of data is created for each trial with the trial number, an avoid or escape tag with corresponding latency, left and right chamber activity, crossings, and punished crossings. A summary file includes total values as well as mean avoid and escape latency.
Step Down
The Shuttle Box Step Down Protocols procedures are written for systems with eight I/R photobeam sensors. The platform should be placed so the subject steps into the right side when stepping down off the platform.
In the training procedure, delay to aversive stimulation onset is 0.001" seconds, aversive stimulation duration is 2 seconds, no response time is 180 seconds, and the inter-trial interval is 120 seconds. In the test procedure, no response time is 180 seconds, and the inter-trial interval is 120 seconds. No aversive stimulation is used in the test procedure.
The data collected in both procedures are the trial numbers and the response latencies.
PassiveThe Shuttle Box Passive Avoidance procedures are written for systems with eight I/R photobeam sensors. The Training procedure features a 180 second trial, measuring the activity on the light side, latency to the dark side, aversive stimulation delay, and aversive stimulation duration. The Test procedure also features a 180 second trial, measuring the activity on the light side and the latency to the dark side. No aversive stimulation is issued in the test procedure.
SOF-700RA-8
Nine Choice Serial Reaction Time Task
In the Nine Choice Serial Reaction Time Task, the subject is required to respond to brief flashes of light presented randomly in one of nine spatial locations. Testing begins with the onset of the house light and the pellet or dipper receptacle light. A head entry issues a free reward presentation and initiates the session timer.
Following the reward interval, an ITI is activated for the first trial. Nose poking during the ITI results in a time out and is recorded as a premature response. Stimulus time outs also occur following an incorrect response, or following an error of omission (failure to respond within the limited hold interval).
By default this procedure runs for 90 trials or 30 minutes, starting with a fixed ITI interval of 5 seconds and fixed stimulus presentation of 0.5 seconds. Both can be randomized by adding to the LIST statements in the MedState Notation™ code.
The time to respond (limited hold) is 5 seconds and premature responses add a 5 second time out before repeating the ITI. Incorrect responses or errors of omission also add a 5 second time out before starting a new trial. Responses during the time out reset the time-out timer. Twenty elements of data are documented for each trial. Summary data includes correct responses, incorrect responses, omissions, premature responses, perseverant responses, time out responses, total receptacle head entries, percent correct, percent incorrect, percent omission, average latency to correct responses, average latency to incorrect responses, and average latency to reward.
SOF-700RA-8A
Five Choice Serial Reaction Time Task
In the Five Choice Serial Reaction Time Task, the subject is required to respond to brief flashes of light presented randomly in one of five spatial locations. Testing begins with the onset of the house light and the pellet or dipper receptacle light. A head entry issues a free reward presentation and initiates the session timer.
Following the reward interval, an ITI is activated for the first trial. Nose poking during the ITI results in a time out and is recorded as a premature response. Stimulus time outs also occur following an incorrect response, or following an error of omission (failure to respond within the limited hold interval).
By default this procedure runs for 50 trials or 30 minutes, starting with a fixed ITI interval of 5 seconds and fixed stimulus presentation of 0.5 seconds. Both can be randomized by adding to the LIST statements in the MedState Notation™ code.
The time to respond (limited hold) is 5 seconds and premature responses add a 5 second time out before repeating the ITI. Incorrect responses or errors of omission also add a 5 second time out before starting a new trial. Responses during the time out reset the time-out timer. Sixteen elements of data are documented for each trial. Summary data includes correct responses, incorrect responses, omissions, premature responses, perseverant responses, time out responses, total receptacle head entries, percent correct, percent incorrect, percent omission, average latency to correct responses, average latency to incorrect responses, and average latency to reward.
SOF-700RA-9
T-Maze Training and Testing
The T-Maze Training and Testing procedure gives the user the option of running left goal arm training, right goal arm training, or force run with random left/right selections.
Each trial requires that the animal run from the start box to the end of the open runway and break the head detection beam in the pellet trough. Trials are aborted (all doors closed) if the animal does not complete the start runway within the "move time" setting. Otherwise the doors close following head detection or "total trial time". A new trial will start every "trial time" given successful trials, but no sooner than "ITI minimum" following the end of the previous trial.
Select the T-Maze procedure and the Load Wizard presents a detailed list of session parameters. From this window, the user may set the number of trials to run, select the training side or test, and set the move, total trial, and ITI minimum times. The default settings shown run 24 left goal arm training trials with a move time of 60 seconds, a total trial time of 5 minutes, and an ITI minimum of 60 seconds.
Data collected include the total trials completed, total move errors, and total trials incomplete. For each trial, the side code, movement time, arm time, and latency to goal are recorded.
Select the Drug Self Infusion procedure and the Load Wizard presents a detailed list of session parameters. From this window, the user may set the fixed ratio setting, session time, maximum number of infusions, a time out following the infusion if desired, infusion time, and turn the optional cumulative record data collection feature on or off. Any of these parameters may be easily changed to accommodate a number of drug self infusion procedures.
The default procedure has the right lever active, although data is collected on both levers. The house light is on through out the procedure, the stimulus light above the right lever is turned on when the procedure enters the fixed ratio component and is turned off during the time out.
Data collected include the number of right and left lever responses during the fixed ratio, infusion, and time out, the time in the fixed ratio, number of infusions, and the number of right lever responses per minute during the fixed ratio.
The Shuttle Box Step Down Protocols procedures are written for systems with eight I/R photobeam sensors. The platform should be placed so the subject steps into the right side when stepping down off the platform.
In the training procedure, delay to aversive stimulation onset is 0.001" seconds, aversive stimulation duration is 2 seconds, no response time is 180 seconds, and the inter-trial interval is 120 seconds. In the test procedure, no response time is 180 seconds, and the inter-trial interval is 120 seconds. No aversive stimulation is used in the test procedure.
The data collected in both procedures are the trial numbers and the response latencies.
The Triadic Learned Helplessness program is designed to run three animals at the same time, from the same box. Subjects in the Escape condition learn to turn the response wheel to terminate the aversive stimulation for themselves and a Yoked partner. The Control subject is not shocked.
When the program loads, the left position is set to Escape, the center to Control, and the Right to Yoke. If your system has aversive stimulators on all three positions, the code may be modified to randomly select which positions (left, center, or right) are the Escape, Yoke, and Control.
By default, the variable for trials to run is set to 100 trials and the session time is 360 minutes. The session is closed if either condition is met. The maximum aversive stimulation time is 30 seconds.
The program starts with an FR 1 schedule. The default time to respond is set to 5 seconds. The FR 1 schedule must be met the number of times specified by the FR1 Increment Ratio Count variable (default of three times) before the FR value is incremented. The FR1 must also be met within the Response Time or the counter resets.
Once the FR 1 schedule is met the number of times specified by the FR 1 Increment Ratio Count variable, the FR schedule will increment by one every time the schedule is met within the Response Time. If the schedule is not
met within the Response Time, the FR value does not increment. If the aversive stimulation is left on for the Max Aversive Stimulation Time, the FR value is reset to 1 and the FR1 Increment Ratio Count must be satisfied again before the FR value will increment.
The maximum FR value is 16. Once the FR value reaches 16, it will stay at 16 as long as the FR 16 schedule is met within the Response Time. If the schedule is not met within the Response Time, the schedule decrements by one.
There are seven columns of data for each trial. The first column is the trial number. This is followed by the left, center, and right response counts. The last three columns are the time to meet FR, the FR value, and the ITI value.
The Shuttle Box Passive Avoidance procedures are written for systems with
eight I/R photobeam sensors. The Training procedure features a 180 second
trial, measuring the activity on the light side, latency to the dark side,
aversive stimulation delay, and aversive stimulation duration. The Test procedure also features a 180
second trial, measuring the activity on the light side and the latency to
the dark side. No aversive stimulation is issued in the test procedure.
This package contains two Fear Training procedures and two Fear Test
procedures for use with the Threshold Fear Conditioning systems and
Threshold Activity software. The procedures are written for systems with
the Programmable Audio Generator (ANL-926) and the Computer-Controlled
Constant Current Aversive Stimulator (ENV-413).
The standard training protocol waits 120 seconds after the start is issued
to turn on a tone for 30 seconds. During the last two seconds of the tone,
the foot aversive stimulation is turned on. The tone and the foot aversive stimulation are turned off
simultaneously. The animal is left in the chamber for an additional 30
seconds.
The alternative training protocol waits 30 seconds after the start is
issued to turn on a 2 second foot aversive stimulation. After waiting 60 seconds, a
second 2 second foot aversive stimulation is issued. The animal is left in the chamber
for an additional 30 seconds.
There is a no conditioned stimulus test protocol that runs for 5
minutes. The conditioned stimulus test protocol has a 3 minute baseline
followed by a 3 minute tone.
Operant Behavior