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At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

A microcomputer technique for the detailed analysis of animal behaviour.

Movements and postures of animals may be described quantitatively and as such represent measures that may be used to, for example, detect drug-induced alterations in behaviour. However, because of the time-investment needed to generate such data, quantitative assessment of animal behaviour remains a major problem in psychopharmacology. The present communication outlines a microcomputer based method for obtaining frequency, real-time duration and latency measures from a large number of behavioural elements. When used in conjunction with a videotape recorder, this system enables one experimenter to obtain data from situations involving several interacting animals, thus representing an aid to increased data-logging efficiency using only equipment that is commonly found in many psychopharmacology laboratories.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

A microcomputer-based data acquisition system for continuous recording of feeding and drinking by rats.

A monitoring system to continuously record the daily pattern of drinking and eating of rats is described. This system, based on a North Star microcomputer, can record the amount of food ingested with a temporal resolution of +/- 1.0 second and quantitative accuracy within +/- 5%. Drinking behavior is detected using a drinkometer which also has a temporal resolution of +/- 1.0 second. Data are analyzed by computer to determine absolute amounts of consumption and patterns of intake. The patterns of feeding and drinking recorded by this system are similar to those observed using other monitoring devices.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

A microcomputer-based system for recording and analyzing behavioral data regarding the sexual activity of male rodents.

A microcomputer (TRS-80 Model 4P) based system has been developed to aid in the collection and analysis of behavioral data regarding sexual activity in male rodents. Its capabilities include the recording of events, the online calculation of frequency and latency measures, the monitoring of temporal intervals as demanded by experimental protocols, and the prompting of experimenter activities at prescribed times.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

A microcomputer-based method for physiologically interpretable measurement of the rewarding efficacy of brain stimulation.

Determination of the function relating rate of pressing to the number of pulses in a train of fixed duration (the rate-frequency function) yields a physiologically interpretable measure of changes in the rewarding efficacy of the stimulation, because the number of action potentials in the reward-relevant first stage axons is directly proportional to the number of pulses in the train. We describe a system, based on a low cost microcomputer, which permits determination of 16-data-point rate-frequency functions in 4-6 animals simultaneously in less than 10 minutes. We give an empirical and theoretical justification for using the curve-shift measurement procedure in drug and lesion work, where the experimental treatments must be presumed to have substantial effects on performance factors.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

An accurate demand feeder for fish, suitable for microcomputer control.

This paper describes an easily constructed and inexpensive demand feeder. The feeder is driven by an AC synchronous motor and gearbox and is suitable for microcomputer control. It will operate with inexpensive commercially available pelleted fish food, and will consistently deliver a single pellet for each operation of the motor. The components and materials can be purchased for approximately 23 pounds.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1990

An adaptable microcomputer program for recording behavior durations.

A versatile and easy to use program is described for monitoring and recording behavior durations on IBM-compatible microcomputers. The program also records frequencies and provides latency information. Among its more prominent attributes are its ability to accommodate a broad range of behavioral assays and the facility with which its operation can be mastered. It requires no specialized hardware and is capable of being used in conjunction with a number of commercially available software packages for statistical analysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

An adaptable microcomputer program for monitoring behavior.

We describe an improvement of a flexible and easy to use program for monitoring and recording behavior durations with IBM-compatible microcomputers and a companion program that provides additional versatility for handling data. Up to 35 behaviors or events can be monitored, and processing speed is fast enough to measure even very rapidly performed behaviors. No specialized hardware is required, and the data files that are created are compatible with commercially available software packages for statistical analysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A microcomputer-controlled demand feeder for the study of feeding behavior in fish.

This paper describes an easy-to-make, low-cost demand feeder. The electromechanical design ensures a single-pellet delivery for each demand. The feeder, activated by a fish pressing a bar, is driven by a solenoid. A variety of pellet shapes and sizes can be used, offering broad experimental versatility. The feeder is also suitable for microcomputer control.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Accurate control of contrast on microcomputer displays.

Off-the-shelf microcomputers can now display arbitrary 8-bit images, but accurate control of these images requires dealing with several undesirable properties of real digital to analog converters (DACs) and analog video monitors. The limitations of DACs and video monitors are presented in the form of a model for their calibration and use in vision experiments. Low contrasts can be accurately rendered by summing a small accurate a.c. signal and a large less-accurate d.c. signal (Watson et al., 1986; Behavior Research, Method, Instrument and Computers, 18, 587-594). Exploiting that idea, this note presents an easy-to-build passive resistor network, a video attenuator, that combines the outputs of three 8-bit DACs to render low contrasts with 12-bit accuracy at the display. Measurements confirm the 12-bit accuracy.

Analog-Digital Conversion↗
PubMed1983

A microcomputer method for behavioral data acquisition and subsequent analysis.

Using a microcomputer (TRS80, Model III), a modular procedure is described which allows rapid manual encoding of visually-observed behavioural units (module 1); processing of the data (e.g., calculation of frequency, duration, latency, sequence analysis) (module 2) and statistical analysis (module 3). This method can be used in several behavioural tasks and provides the possibility of various subsequent analysis without re-encoding or transcribing the initial data.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Microcomputer adaptation of the wheel-shaped activity monitor: effects of lindane.

The development of microcomputers with increased power and memory capacity may allow for the spreading of the techniques of microanalysis of animal behavior in neurotoxicology. The present work describes the adaptation of the wheel-shaped activity monitor to a personal computer system (IBM-PC/XT/AT-compatible). The system has been used to study the effects elicited by a single 30 mg/kg dose of the organochlorine insecticide gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane) on the spontaneous behavior of rats. Lindane induced complex changes in behavior, the most prominent being a disruption of the temporal pattern of activity and changes in the local activity/locomotor activity ratios and in place preferences in the monitor. Effects on body weight and number of fecal boluses were also observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Adaptive microcomputer control of an artificial knee in level walking.

An experimental microcomputer controlled prosthesis is discussed, where knee damping is governed by kinematic signals, picked up from both legs. The control algorithm is based on division of the walking cycle into ten stages; each stage characterized by an appropriate damping level which governs the restraining moment at the knee, as functionally required. Stage identification is carried out by the kinematic inputs. The experimental prosthesis was tested on one amputee, the first author of this paper. The control system was found to be more advantageous than a conventional valve system in significantly reducing hip muscular effort on the prosthetic side. Gait symmetry is also improved.

Computers↗
PubMed1984

A microcomputer-based binaural measurement system.

A microcomputer is used to control a dual-channel, sine-wave generator as the excitation to both the left and right ears in experimental subjects, and for on-line measurement of the neuronal spike counts. The effects of varying the walking pattern and phase angle between the two channels can be investigated. After normalisation of spike counts, the result can be displayed as a 3-D plot on a CRT or an x-y plotter. The system is useful for general steady state and transient binaural measurement.

Biomedical Engineering↗
PubMed1986

Analysis of saccadic eye movements with a microcomputer.

This analysis of saccadic eye movements has found use in clinical diagnosis. Saccades are induced by a microcomputer-controlled TV stimulator and are recorded by electro-oculography. The analysis algorithm detects saccades by the velocity profile of eye position and then computes the principal saccadic parameters, peak velocity and amplitude. In addition, the saccades are presented on the VDU screen, together with the computed results of the analysis; they may be edited if necessary. The programs have been implemented in Pascal and Assembler languages.

Computers↗
PubMed1987

Measurement of the temporal and spatial parameters of gait using a microcomputer based system.

This paper describes a system for measuring the temporal and spatial parameters of gait. The basis of the system is a resistive grid walkway which is controlled by a microcomputer which also collects, processes and stores the data from the walkway. The data obtained from the system, including the temporal and spatial parameters of gait such as step and stride lengths, the durations of swing and support phases of the gait cycle and walking speed, are presented in both numerical and graphical forms. Accuracy to within 1 cm has been verified by analysing videotapes of foot placement during a walk. Special emphasis has been placed on making the system software user-friendly. The presentation of date uses several types of display, from a simple graphical summary of the walk statistics to a more complete report showing all the data from each stride. In the year during which the walkway system has been operational, it has been found easy to use by both subjects and operators, and it produces very useful data.

Biomedical Engineering↗
PubMed1988

Dimensional measurements on images from a video camera or cassette recorder using a BBC microcomputer.

We have developed a system that enables a BBC microcomputer to make dimensional measurements on images from a video camera or cassette recorder without a framestore. The RGB output of the computer is synchronized to the output of the camera or recorder and the two displayed simultaneously on the same monitor. Measurements can be made directly from the displayed image using points indicated by the computer graphics cursor via its keyboard. Distances can be measured with a precision of about 0.4%. The system is very versatile but is especially useful for measuring the freeze-frame output from a Philips standard videotape.

Computers↗
PubMed1990

A microcomputer-based video vector system for clinical gait analysis.

A microcomputer-based video vector system has been developed to display the resultant ground reaction force vector on a television image of the subject in real-time. For each television field the force platform signals are acquired and processed and the resultant force vector superimposed on the video image of the walking subject. The force platform results are stored on disc and the composite video signals recorded on video tape for further analysis. The system is easy to set up and use and the results can be readily interpreted. The external moments produced at the joint centers by the ground reaction forces can be observed visually and, if required, quantification of the external moments can be achieved following data collection. The spatial resolution of the system is 0.342% vertically and 0.156% horizontally. The force vector visualization technique has routine applications in orthotics and prosthetics. It is also a useful technique for the teaching of biomechanics.

Calibration↗