Millisecond Forums » Millisecond Forums » Inquisit 5 » windows display of scanner trigger

windows display of scanner trigger

nrouhani — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 22:03:41 GMT

hello,

i wrote an inquisit 5 script on a mac to be run in an fMRI experiment that runs the task on a windows device. the fmri scanner waits for a "=" key press to start, but when testing this (on a windows device while scanning) the "=" appears in a subsequent answer box on the next trial (while it does not do this on a mac). is there any way to prevent this from happening?

thank you!

Below is a short snippet of the code that should run, you have to press "=" for it start.

*************************************************
EXPERIMENT
*************************************************

<expt>
/ blocks = [1=task]
</expt>

*************************************************
LEARNING
*************************************************

// BLOCKS
<block task>
/ trials = [1=new_room; 2=estimate_nat]
/ errormessage = false
/ skip = [script.groupid>2]
</block>

// TRIALS

// new room
<trial new_room>
/ stimulustimes = [0=blank, newRoomText]
/ trialduration = 6000
/ validresponse = (noresponse)
/ pretrialsignal = (keyboard,13)
</trial>

<openended estimate_nat>
/ position = (50, 50)
/ buttonlabel = "please enter estimate"
/ fontstyle = ("Arial",20)
/ inputdevice = keyboard
/ validresponse = (noresponse)
/ stimulustimes = [0=estimateQ]
/ linelength = 3
/ range = (0,100)
/ numlines = 1
/ responsefontstyle = ("Arial",80)
/ trialduration = 3000
</openended>

*************************************************
Background
*************************************************

// screen
<defaults>
/ screencolor = white
/ txcolor = darkgrey
</defaults>

<shape blank>
/ color = darkgrey
/ shape = rectangle
/ size = (100%, 100%)
/ erase = false
</shape>

*************************************************
Stimuli Presentation
*************************************************

<text newRoomText>
/ items = ("You have traveled to a new location")
/ vjustify = center
/ size = (500,60)
/ fontstyle = ("Helvetica", 2.48%, true, false, false, false, 5, 0)
/ vposition = (30)
/ hposition = (50)
/ txbgcolor = azure
/ txcolor = darkorange
</text>

<text estimateQ>
/ items = ("please estimate the value of this category (artificial or natural) from 0 to 100 cents")
/ halign = center
/ vjustify = center
/ size = (500,90)
/ fontstyle = ("Helvetica", 2.48%, true, false, false, false, 5, 0)
/ vposition = (30)
/ hposition = (50)
/ txbgcolor = white
/ txcolor = darkgray
/ erase = false
</text>

RE: windows display of scanner trigger

nrouhani — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 22:03:41 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]Dave - 10/17/2022[/b]
+x[quote]

[b]nrouhani - 10/17/2022[/b]
+x[quote]

[b]Dave - 10/13/2022[/b]
+x[quote]

[b]nrouhani - 10/13/2022[/b]
hello,

i wrote an inquisit 5 script on a mac to be run in an fMRI experiment that runs the task on a windows device. the fmri scanner waits for a "=" key press to start, but when testing this (on a windows device while scanning) the "=" appears in a subsequent answer box on the next trial (while it does not do this on a mac). is there any way to prevent this from happening?

thank you!

Below is a short snippet of the code that should run, you have to press "=" for it start.

*************************************************
EXPERIMENT
*************************************************

<expt>
/ blocks = [1=task]
</expt>

*************************************************
LEARNING
*************************************************

// BLOCKS
<block task>
/ trials = [1=new_room; 2=estimate_nat]
/ errormessage = false
/ skip = [script.groupid>2]
</block>

// TRIALS

// new room
<trial new_room>
/ stimulustimes = [0=blank, newRoomText]
/ trialduration = 6000
/ validresponse = (noresponse)
/ pretrialsignal = (keyboard,13)
</trial>

<openended estimate_nat>
/ position = (50, 50)
/ buttonlabel = "please enter estimate"
/ fontstyle = ("Arial",20)
/ inputdevice = keyboard
/ validresponse = (noresponse)
/ stimulustimes = [0=estimateQ]
/ linelength = 3
/ range = (0,100)
/ numlines = 1
/ responsefontstyle = ("Arial",80)
/ trialduration = 3000
</openended>

*************************************************
Background
*************************************************

// screen
<defaults>
/ screencolor = white
/ txcolor = darkgrey
</defaults>

<shape blank>
/ color = darkgrey
/ shape = rectangle
/ size = (100%, 100%)
/ erase = false
</shape>

*************************************************
Stimuli Presentation
*************************************************

<text newRoomText>
/ items = ("You have traveled to a new location")
/ vjustify = center
/ size = (500,60)
/ fontstyle = ("Helvetica", 2.48%, true, false, false, false, 5, 0)
/ vposition = (30)
/ hposition = (50)
/ txbgcolor = azure
/ txcolor = darkorange
</text>

<text estimateQ>
/ items = ("please estimate the value of this category (artificial or natural) from 0 to 100 cents")
/ halign = center
/ vjustify = center
/ size = (500,90)
/ fontstyle = ("Helvetica", 2.48%, true, false, false, false, 5, 0)
/ vposition = (30)
/ hposition = (50)
/ txbgcolor = white
/ txcolor = darkgray
/ erase = false
</text>
[/quote]

> when testing this (on a windows device while scanning) the "=" appears in a subsequent answer box on the next trial

Not seeing this when I run the code you provided in Inquisit 5.0.14.0 on Windows. What's the Inquisit 5 version installed on the Windows box you used for this?
[/quote]

hi we realized what the problem was which is that the scanner outputs "=" every TR of the scanning experiment (the = is the scanner's trigger), which is standard in an fMRI experiment - is there a way from preventing "=" to display in the answer box? thank you!
[/quote]

You can try restricting the openended's input per /mask, in which case it will not accept the "=" character.

<openended estimate_nat>
/ position = (50, 50)
/ buttonlabel = "please enter estimate"
/ fontstyle = ("Arial",20)
/ inputdevice = keyboard
/ validresponse = (noresponse)
/ stimulustimes = [0=estimateQ]
/ linelength = 3
/ range = (0,100)
/ mask = positiveintegerorzero
/ numlines = 1
/ responsefontstyle = ("Arial",80)
/ trialduration = 3000
</openended>

Depending on when / how rapidly the scanner repeats the "=" character, however, you might briefly see the character flash up in the input box and/or hear a Windows error sound. (The latter you can get rid of by changing the Windows sound scheme from 'Windows Default' to 'No Sounds'.)

[/quote]

thank you so much!

RE: windows display of scanner trigger

Dave — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 22:02:41 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]nrouhani - 10/17/2022[/b]
+x[quote]

[b]Dave - 10/13/2022[/b]
+x[quote]

[b]nrouhani - 10/13/2022[/b]
hello,

i wrote an inquisit 5 script on a mac to be run in an fMRI experiment that runs the task on a windows device. the fmri scanner waits for a "=" key press to start, but when testing this (on a windows device while scanning) the "=" appears in a subsequent answer box on the next trial (while it does not do this on a mac). is there any way to prevent this from happening?

thank you!

Below is a short snippet of the code that should run, you have to press "=" for it start.

*************************************************
EXPERIMENT
*************************************************

<expt>
/ blocks = [1=task]
</expt>

*************************************************
LEARNING
*************************************************

// BLOCKS
<block task>
/ trials = [1=new_room; 2=estimate_nat]
/ errormessage = false
/ skip = [script.groupid>2]
</block>

// TRIALS

// new room
<trial new_room>
/ stimulustimes = [0=blank, newRoomText]
/ trialduration = 6000
/ validresponse = (noresponse)
/ pretrialsignal = (keyboard,13)
</trial>

<openended estimate_nat>
/ position = (50, 50)
/ buttonlabel = "please enter estimate"
/ fontstyle = ("Arial",20)
/ inputdevice = keyboard
/ validresponse = (noresponse)
/ stimulustimes = [0=estimateQ]
/ linelength = 3
/ range = (0,100)
/ numlines = 1
/ responsefontstyle = ("Arial",80)
/ trialduration = 3000
</openended>

*************************************************
Background
*************************************************

// screen
<defaults>
/ screencolor = white
/ txcolor = darkgrey
</defaults>

<shape blank>
/ color = darkgrey
/ shape = rectangle
/ size = (100%, 100%)
/ erase = false
</shape>

*************************************************
Stimuli Presentation
*************************************************

<text newRoomText>
/ items = ("You have traveled to a new location")
/ vjustify = center
/ size = (500,60)
/ fontstyle = ("Helvetica", 2.48%, true, false, false, false, 5, 0)
/ vposition = (30)
/ hposition = (50)
/ txbgcolor = azure
/ txcolor = darkorange
</text>

<text estimateQ>
/ items = ("please estimate the value of this category (artificial or natural) from 0 to 100 cents")
/ halign = center
/ vjustify = center
/ size = (500,90)
/ fontstyle = ("Helvetica", 2.48%, true, false, false, false, 5, 0)
/ vposition = (30)
/ hposition = (50)
/ txbgcolor = white
/ txcolor = darkgray
/ erase = false
</text>
[/quote]

> when testing this (on a windows device while scanning) the "=" appears in a subsequent answer box on the next trial

Not seeing this when I run the code you provided in Inquisit 5.0.14.0 on Windows. What's the Inquisit 5 version installed on the Windows box you used for this?
[/quote]

hi we realized what the problem was which is that the scanner outputs "=" every TR of the scanning experiment (the = is the scanner's trigger), which is standard in an fMRI experiment - is there a way from preventing "=" to display in the answer box? thank you!
[/quote]

You can try restricting the openended's input per /mask, in which case it will not accept the "=" character.

<openended estimate_nat>
/ position = (50, 50)
/ buttonlabel = "please enter estimate"
/ fontstyle = ("Arial",20)
/ inputdevice = keyboard
/ validresponse = (noresponse)
/ stimulustimes = [0=estimateQ]
/ linelength = 3
/ range = (0,100)
/ mask = positiveintegerorzero
/ numlines = 1
/ responsefontstyle = ("Arial",80)
/ trialduration = 3000
</openended>

Depending on when / how rapidly the scanner repeats the "=" character, however, you might briefly see the character flash up in the input box and/or hear a Windows error sound. (The latter you can get rid of by changing the Windows sound scheme from 'Windows Default' to 'No Sounds'.)

RE: windows display of scanner trigger

nrouhani — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 21:32:37 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]Dave - 10/13/2022[/b]
+x[quote]

[b]nrouhani - 10/13/2022[/b]
hello,

i wrote an inquisit 5 script on a mac to be run in an fMRI experiment that runs the task on a windows device. the fmri scanner waits for a "=" key press to start, but when testing this (on a windows device while scanning) the "=" appears in a subsequent answer box on the next trial (while it does not do this on a mac). is there any way to prevent this from happening?

thank you!

Below is a short snippet of the code that should run, you have to press "=" for it start.

*************************************************
EXPERIMENT
*************************************************

<expt>
/ blocks = [1=task]
</expt>

*************************************************
LEARNING
*************************************************

// BLOCKS
<block task>
/ trials = [1=new_room; 2=estimate_nat]
/ errormessage = false
/ skip = [script.groupid>2]
</block>

// TRIALS

// new room
<trial new_room>
/ stimulustimes = [0=blank, newRoomText]
/ trialduration = 6000
/ validresponse = (noresponse)
/ pretrialsignal = (keyboard,13)
</trial>

<openended estimate_nat>
/ position = (50, 50)
/ buttonlabel = "please enter estimate"
/ fontstyle = ("Arial",20)
/ inputdevice = keyboard
/ validresponse = (noresponse)
/ stimulustimes = [0=estimateQ]
/ linelength = 3
/ range = (0,100)
/ numlines = 1
/ responsefontstyle = ("Arial",80)
/ trialduration = 3000
</openended>

*************************************************
Background
*************************************************

// screen
<defaults>
/ screencolor = white
/ txcolor = darkgrey
</defaults>

<shape blank>
/ color = darkgrey
/ shape = rectangle
/ size = (100%, 100%)
/ erase = false
</shape>

*************************************************
Stimuli Presentation
*************************************************

<text newRoomText>
/ items = ("You have traveled to a new location")
/ vjustify = center
/ size = (500,60)
/ fontstyle = ("Helvetica", 2.48%, true, false, false, false, 5, 0)
/ vposition = (30)
/ hposition = (50)
/ txbgcolor = azure
/ txcolor = darkorange
</text>

<text estimateQ>
/ items = ("please estimate the value of this category (artificial or natural) from 0 to 100 cents")
/ halign = center
/ vjustify = center
/ size = (500,90)
/ fontstyle = ("Helvetica", 2.48%, true, false, false, false, 5, 0)
/ vposition = (30)
/ hposition = (50)
/ txbgcolor = white
/ txcolor = darkgray
/ erase = false
</text>
[/quote]

> when testing this (on a windows device while scanning) the "=" appears in a subsequent answer box on the next trial

Not seeing this when I run the code you provided in Inquisit 5.0.14.0 on Windows. What's the Inquisit 5 version installed on the Windows box you used for this?
[/quote]

hi we realized what the problem was which is that the scanner outputs "=" every TR of the scanning experiment (the = is the scanner's trigger), which is standard in an fMRI experiment - is there a way from preventing "=" to display in the answer box? thank you!

RE: windows display of scanner trigger

Dave — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 23:00:58 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]nrouhani - 10/13/2022[/b]
hello,

i wrote an inquisit 5 script on a mac to be run in an fMRI experiment that runs the task on a windows device. the fmri scanner waits for a "=" key press to start, but when testing this (on a windows device while scanning) the "=" appears in a subsequent answer box on the next trial (while it does not do this on a mac). is there any way to prevent this from happening?

thank you!

Below is a short snippet of the code that should run, you have to press "=" for it start.

*************************************************
EXPERIMENT
*************************************************

<expt>
/ blocks = [1=task]
</expt>

*************************************************
LEARNING
*************************************************

// BLOCKS
<block task>
/ trials = [1=new_room; 2=estimate_nat]
/ errormessage = false
/ skip = [script.groupid>2]
</block>

// TRIALS

// new room
<trial new_room>
/ stimulustimes = [0=blank, newRoomText]
/ trialduration = 6000
/ validresponse = (noresponse)
/ pretrialsignal = (keyboard,13)
</trial>

<openended estimate_nat>
/ position = (50, 50)
/ buttonlabel = "please enter estimate"
/ fontstyle = ("Arial",20)
/ inputdevice = keyboard
/ validresponse = (noresponse)
/ stimulustimes = [0=estimateQ]
/ linelength = 3
/ range = (0,100)
/ numlines = 1
/ responsefontstyle = ("Arial",80)
/ trialduration = 3000
</openended>

*************************************************
Background
*************************************************

// screen
<defaults>
/ screencolor = white
/ txcolor = darkgrey
</defaults>

<shape blank>
/ color = darkgrey
/ shape = rectangle
/ size = (100%, 100%)
/ erase = false
</shape>

*************************************************
Stimuli Presentation
*************************************************

<text newRoomText>
/ items = ("You have traveled to a new location")
/ vjustify = center
/ size = (500,60)
/ fontstyle = ("Helvetica", 2.48%, true, false, false, false, 5, 0)
/ vposition = (30)
/ hposition = (50)
/ txbgcolor = azure
/ txcolor = darkorange
</text>

<text estimateQ>
/ items = ("please estimate the value of this category (artificial or natural) from 0 to 100 cents")
/ halign = center
/ vjustify = center
/ size = (500,90)
/ fontstyle = ("Helvetica", 2.48%, true, false, false, false, 5, 0)
/ vposition = (30)
/ hposition = (50)
/ txbgcolor = white
/ txcolor = darkgray
/ erase = false
</text>
[/quote]

> when testing this (on a windows device while scanning) the "=" appears in a subsequent answer box on the next trial

Not seeing this when I run the code you provided in Inquisit 5.0.14.0 on Windows. What's the Inquisit 5 version installed on the Windows box you used for this?