Software and hardware for experimental control and behavioral response measurement

Flexibility is the most requested feature in stimulus delivery and response measurement apparatus.  We've selected software programs and devices that can be computer driven for the ultimate in flexible stimulus delivery.  Each of these tools can be interfaced with any of our acquisition systems for measurement of EPs and ERPs or they can be used by themselves for behavioral testing. 

High-precision program for stimulus delivery and experimental control

Presentation is Windows 98/ME/2000/XP compatible, yet it provides sub-millisecond temporal precision and complete timing information for all stimulus and response events.  It operates on standard PC hardware, and handles multiple tasks including simultaneous video and auditory stimulus delivery, responses and interrupt registration, trigger input/output, etc.  The software is fully adaptive and easy to program.  Presentation is optimized for behavioral and physiological experiments using fMRI/ERP/MEG and single neuron recording.  Presentation development has been generously supported by NINDS.

Experimental lab software

SuperLab is a superb Windows- and Mac-based software application for stimulation and activation.  SuperLab is one of the the most widely-used computerized stimulation tools available.  SuperLab can display color graphics of your choice, play digital audio or video files and send event triggers to external devices such as other types of stimulators.  The software supports a variety of subject input devices, including RB-Series Reponse Pads, voice response device or keyboard.  SuperLab also incorporates precise mechanisms for triggering data acquisition systems for EEG / MEG studies.  The collected reaction time and response accuracy data are saved in text files which can be imported easily into spreadsheet, statistics and signal analysis software.  SuperLab Pro is the easiest stimulation software to use, bar none. The tutorial chapter in the manual helps new users come up to speed in less than an hour. 

Devices for registering participant responses in ERP, fMRI or behavioral testing

We offer both manual and vocal response devices that are flexible, accurate and easy to use.

High-performance insert earphones for EP / ERP applications

• Unique design eliminates interference with ERP / EP measurements
• Flat frequency response referenced to the sound field
• * 70+ dB isolation between ears: reduces the need for masking
• Eliminates collapsed ear canal problem
• 30+ dB external noise exclusion

* When used with a source having separate grounds for each channel -- e.g. NOT a standard PC sound card.

These specialized insert earphones have been designed to imitate the normal resonance of the open ear, and is used for speech audiometry where the goal is to reproduce the same frequency response at the eardrum for speech as would be produced in the live situation.

Battery powered constant current or constant voltage stimulators

Brief pulses of electricity are used in various biomedical research applications as a stimulus to excite nerve or muscle fibers.  In EP research, electrical stimulation is commonly used to elicit somatosensory evoked potentials.  Several factors need to be considered to choose the right stimulator for your application.

Real-time visual, auditory and tactile stimulation unit

The g.tec MATLAB based multi-modal stimulation unit is a highly flexible and user-adaptable tool for application in all fields of brain and life sciences.  g.STIMunit provides standard paradigms for motor–, cognitive–, perceptual tasks and biofeedback. All standard paradigms can be modified with an integrated paradigm parser. Users can easily set up their own experimental sequences in different modalities (visual, auditory or tactile). The system has several analog input channels to read biosignals or external signals (pressure, acceleration, movement,...) into g.STIMunit. The system can be used to extract specific features and to present the results to subjects/patients on the computer display. Accessories include external switches/keyboard to log subject responses. g.STIMunit supports the setting of external triggers for communication with other systems. Use g.DAQsys to acquire biosignal data during paradigm presentation and g.RTsys to calculate specific parameters in real–time in order to integrate the results in your g.STIMunit paradigm.