Abstract
Many behavioral neuroscience experiments require that stimuli be presented in a highly controlled and precise manner. The proper delivery of stimuli presents a variety of challenges for the experimenter. For example, the delivery of stimuli must often be precisely timed. Also, it is often desirable or necessary to manipulate various parameters of the stimuli including stimulus intensity, duration, and frequency. And, it is important that the backgrounds against which the stimuli are presented are held constant so that the relationship between the saliencies of the stimuli and the backgrounds are relatively constant. In this chapter, we use classical conditioning examples to discuss the important features and methods associated with stimulus control. Indeed, classical conditioning experiments provide excellent examples for discussing the variety of important issues that relate to the presentation of stimuli in an experiment.
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References
Operational Amplifier. An electronic device used for amplification, the operational amplifier or “op amp” is a general device that can be used for a variety of standard analog applications. An op amp is an integrated circuit, as opposed to a discrete device like a transistor or resistor. We normally use op amps for amplification, filtering, comparing, buffering and mixing (adding) signals.
Resistor. A discrete (single purpose, separate) electronic device that impedes the flow of current.
Capacitor. A discrete (single purpose, separate) electronic device that stores charge and resists changes in current flow.
Potentiometer. Like a resistor, this is a discrete (single purpose, separate) electronic device that impedes the flow of current. The potentiometer has the trait that the impedance value can be changed by the user, normally by rotating an axle.
Transistor. A discrete (single purpose, separate) electronic device that amplifies an analog signal but can also be used for digital switching. Multiple transistors are used to design operational amplifiers.
6502 Micro Controller. A controller is a device that incorporates several components: a processer, memory, and interfacing circuits. The processor interprets commands (software) and might store data. The 6502 microprocessor was one of the first devices used as the basis for primitive computers, the AIM-65 and KIM-I for example, and later became the brain behind the first popular personal computers, the Commodore VIC-20 and Apple II computers for example. The Z80 microprocessor and the 6800 microprocessor were its main rivals.
ROM-based Controller. A device where a ROM (Read Only Memory) stores a collection of serial instructions which, when activated sequentially, effect a series of commands. For example, timing for delay classical conditioning can be effected by commanding no output (baseline period), tone (the CS period) and air puff (US period) for a trial.
TTL interface. A standard digital signal having either an on or off state. The on state is a voltage between +2.4 and +5.0 volts, and the off state is a voltage between 0 and +0.8 volts. Voltages in between +0.8 and +2.4 are undefined. Voltages outside these ranges, i.e., below 0 volts (negative voltages) or about +5.0 volts, will damage TTL device.
Optoisolator. A discrete (single purpose, separate) electronic device which has an input and output that are electronically isolated but spanned by an optical (light) signal. The input is usually an LED (light emitting diode) and the output is commonly a phototransistor (a transistor that detects light). The big advantage of an optoisolator is that devices attached to the input and output are electrically isolated, so that anything that “goes wrong” on one side or the other will not destroy the other side. This is a good way to protect an expensive computer from laboratory equipment. It is also a good way to protect a subject from the possibility of electrocution. It is also a good way to eliminate electrical artifacts in neural recordings caused by stimulation.
Precision Waveform Generator. An integrated circuit used to create electronic signals.
Address Decoder. An integrated circuit used in digital applications (e.g., computers) to select a particular device, where different devices have different addresses.
Diode. A discrete (single purpose, separate) electronic device that allows current to flow in one direction but not in the reverse direction.
Analog Switch. An integrated circuit that selects among alternative paths for an analog signal.
Variac. A discrete (single purpose, separate) electronic device that acts like a variable transformer.
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© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Lavond, D.G., Steinmetz, J.E. (2003). The Delivery of Stimuli. In: Handbook of Classical Conditioning. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0263-0_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0263-0_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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