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Is it possible to keep repeating blocks based on subject's responses?

psychbrain — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 05:08:18 GMT

I am trying to program a study in which subjects choose among three tasks of varying levels of difficulty to perform. They perform this task, and then they choose again. This cycle would continue for 90 minutes. I have tried using the monkey to run the program, and while I have been able to branch to the different tasks, I have not found a way to get the program to keep running until the allotted time runs out. The highest number of blocks the monkey has done is 3.

1) Is the placement of the timeout element in the below syntax adequate for my task?
2) Is it possible for me to have a separate block that would allow the cycle discussed above? If not, is there a way I could achieve what I'm going for?

Thanks for any answers.

<parameters>
/completetaskduration = 5400000
</parameters>

<trial taskselect>
/ stimulusframes = [1 = intro_paid]
/ validresponse = (parameters.responsekey_1back, parameters.responsekey_2back, parameters.responsekey_3back)
/ recorddata = true
</trial>

<block TaskSelect>
/trials = [1 = taskselect]
/ recorddata = true
/ branch = [if (trial.taskselect.response == parameters.responsekey_1back) {block.1back}]
/ branch = [if (trial.taskselect.response == parameters.responsekey_2back) {block.2back}]
/ branch = [if (trial.taskselect.response == parameters.responsekey_3back) {block.3back}]

/ screencolor = black
</block>

<block 1back>
/ preinstructions = (page.getready)
/ onblockbegin = [
    values.N = 1;
    values.currenttarget = 0;
    list.items.reset();
    values.lastIndex = 1;
    expressions.fillitemlist;
    values.Hits = 0;
    values.FalseA = 0;
    values.Misses = 0;
    values.CorrReject = 0;
    values.TotalBlocks += 1;
    values.starttrialcounter = 0;
    values.questionscounter = 0;
]
/ trials = [1 = startpreincentive;
2 - 37 = noreplace(
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive);
38 = trial.taskselect;
]
/ screencolor = (0, 0, 0)
/ timeout = parameters.completetaskduration
/ branch = [block.TaskSelect]
</block>

<block 2back>
/ preinstructions = (page.getready)
/ onblockbegin = [
    values.N = 2;
    values.currenttarget = 0;
    list.items.reset();
    values.lastIndex = 1;
    expressions.fillitemlist;
    values.Hits = 0;
    values.FalseA = 0;
    values.Misses = 0;
    values.CorrReject = 0;
    values.TotalBlocks += 1;
    values.starttrialcounter = 0;
    values.questionscounter = 0;
]
/ trials = [1 = startpreincentive;
2 - 37 = noreplace(
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive);
38 = trial.taskselect;
]
/ screencolor = (0, 0, 0)
/ timeout = parameters.completetaskduration
/ branch = [block.TaskSelect]
</block>

<block 3back>
/ preinstructions = (page.getready)
/ onblockbegin = [
    values.N = 3;
    values.currenttarget = 0;
    list.items.reset();
    values.lastIndex = 1;
    expressions.fillitemlist;
    values.Hits = 0;
    values.FalseA = 0;
    values.Misses = 0;
    values.CorrReject = 0;
    values.TotalBlocks += 1;
    values.starttrialcounter = 0;
    values.questionscounter = 0;
]
/ trials = [1 = startpreincentive;
2 - 37 = noreplace(
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive);
38 = trial.taskselect;
]
/ screencolor = (0, 0, 0)
/ timeout = parameters.completetaskduration
/ branch = [block.TaskSelect]
</block>

RE: Is it possible to keep repeating blocks based on subject's responses?

Dave — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 05:08:18 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]psychbrain - 1/14/2020[/b]
I am trying to program a study in which subjects choose among three tasks of varying levels of difficulty to perform. They perform this task, and then they choose again. This cycle would continue for 90 minutes. I have tried using the monkey to run the program, and while I have been able to branch to the different tasks, I have not found a way to get the program to keep running until the allotted time runs out. The highest number of blocks the monkey has done is 3.

1) Is the placement of the timeout element in the below syntax adequate for my task?
2) Is it possible for me to have a separate block that would allow the cycle discussed above? If not, is there a way I could achieve what I'm going for?

Thanks for any answers.

<parameters>
/completetaskduration = 5400000
</parameters>

<trial taskselect>
/ stimulusframes = [1 = intro_paid]
/ validresponse = (parameters.responsekey_1back, parameters.responsekey_2back, parameters.responsekey_3back)
/ recorddata = true
</trial>

<block TaskSelect>
/trials = [1 = taskselect]
/ recorddata = true
/ branch = [if (trial.taskselect.response == parameters.responsekey_1back) {block.1back}]
/ branch = [if (trial.taskselect.response == parameters.responsekey_2back) {block.2back}]
/ branch = [if (trial.taskselect.response == parameters.responsekey_3back) {block.3back}]

/ screencolor = black
</block>

<block 1back>
/ preinstructions = (page.getready)
/ onblockbegin = [
    values.N = 1;
    values.currenttarget = 0;
    list.items.reset();
    values.lastIndex = 1;
    expressions.fillitemlist;
    values.Hits = 0;
    values.FalseA = 0;
    values.Misses = 0;
    values.CorrReject = 0;
    values.TotalBlocks += 1;
    values.starttrialcounter = 0;
    values.questionscounter = 0;
]
/ trials = [1 = startpreincentive;
2 - 37 = noreplace(
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive);
38 = trial.taskselect;
]
/ screencolor = (0, 0, 0)
/ timeout = parameters.completetaskduration
/ branch = [block.TaskSelect]
</block>

<block 2back>
/ preinstructions = (page.getready)
/ onblockbegin = [
    values.N = 2;
    values.currenttarget = 0;
    list.items.reset();
    values.lastIndex = 1;
    expressions.fillitemlist;
    values.Hits = 0;
    values.FalseA = 0;
    values.Misses = 0;
    values.CorrReject = 0;
    values.TotalBlocks += 1;
    values.starttrialcounter = 0;
    values.questionscounter = 0;
]
/ trials = [1 = startpreincentive;
2 - 37 = noreplace(
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive);
38 = trial.taskselect;
]
/ screencolor = (0, 0, 0)
/ timeout = parameters.completetaskduration
/ branch = [block.TaskSelect]
</block>

<block 3back>
/ preinstructions = (page.getready)
/ onblockbegin = [
    values.N = 3;
    values.currenttarget = 0;
    list.items.reset();
    values.lastIndex = 1;
    expressions.fillitemlist;
    values.Hits = 0;
    values.FalseA = 0;
    values.Misses = 0;
    values.CorrReject = 0;
    values.TotalBlocks += 1;
    values.starttrialcounter = 0;
    values.questionscounter = 0;
]
/ trials = [1 = startpreincentive;
2 - 37 = noreplace(
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive
nontargetpreincentive, nontargetpreincentive, targetpreincentive, targetpreincentive);
38 = trial.taskselect;
]
/ screencolor = (0, 0, 0)
/ timeout = parameters.completetaskduration
/ branch = [block.TaskSelect]
</block>
[/quote]

> 1) Is the placement of the timeout element in the below syntax adequate for my task?

No. You've placed the /timeout in the <block> elements, meaning each individual *block* would have a maximum allowed duration of 90 minutes, not the overall task across all blocks.

You'll want to remove the /timeout from the <block> elements and instead do something at the <expt> level along the following lines

<expt>
/ stop = [script.elapsedtime >= parameters.completetaskduration]
...
</expt>