Abstract
MATLAB is a convenient platform for the development and management of psychological experiments because of its easy-to-use programming language, sophisticated graphics features, and statistics and optimization tools. Through implementation of the Brainard-Pelli Psychophysics Toolbox, the MATLAB user gains close temporal and spatial control over the CRT, while retaining the simplicity of an interpreted language conducive to rapid program development. MATLAB’s abilities can be further utilized through easily programmable graphical user interfaces (GUIs). We illustrate how a GUI can serve as a powerful and intuitive tool for organizing and controlling all aspects of a psychological experiment, including design, data collection, data analysis, and theory fitting.
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The writing of this manuscript was supported by NIMH Grant MH41637 to G.L. We thank David Brainard for enormous amounts of help in understanding the Psychophysics Toolbox and MATLAB in general. The MATLAB code discussed in this article will be posted on E.H.’s Web site (http://students.washington.edu/eharley/). Please e-mail either of the authors for details.
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Harley, E.M., Loftus, G.R. MATLAB and graphical user interfaces: Tools for experimental management. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers 32, 290–296 (2000). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03207797
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03207797