Photostimulation Controls

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PHOTOSTIMULATION CONTROLS Panel: Sequence mode (left); on-demand mode (right)

Overview

The PHOTOSTIMULATION CONTROLS panel is used for configuring and controlling execution of 2D-scanned stimulation patterns.

Note

The PHOTOSTIMULATION CONTROLS panel can be accessed by clicking the “Photostim” button or selecting View->Photostim Controls from the MAIN CONTROLS interface.

Main Panel

Photostim Mode

Set photostim module to operate in either sequence or on-demand mode. See the photostimulation documentation for details on each operating mode.

Trigger Source

Select the source of stimulation triggers. There are three options for the trigger source:

  • PFI Term: The numerical PFI channel ID where an external digital trigger is wired can be selected

  • Frame Clock: Use the imaging frame clock as a trigger

  • Auto: A time delay (in seconds) for an automatic periodic trigger can be specified

Sync Source

Select the source of stimulation synchronization triggers. There are two options for the trigger source:

  • PFI Term: The numerical PFI channel ID where an external digital sync trigger is wired can be selected

  • Frame Clock: Use the imaging frame clock as a synchronization trigger

Stim Immediately

Execute a stimulus immediately on start, rather than waiting for a trigger. The specific behavior depends on operating mode:

  • Sequence mode

    • When checked, the first stimulus of the sequence will be triggered immediately when the module is started. Subsequent patterns in the sequence will start with subsequent triggers.

    • When not checked, no stimulus will occur when the photostim module starts. The first stimulus and subsequent stimuli will execute when triggers are received.

  • In on-demand mode

    • When checked, a stimulus will execute as soon as an on-demand stimulus request is made.

    • When not checked, an on demand stimulus request will cause the desired stimulus to be primed, but it will wait for a trigger before it actually executes.

Stimulus Groups

Lists the stimulus groups that have been configured by their ID and name. A stimulus group consists of one or more stimulus functions that execute as a continuous waveform.

Note

You can double click a stimulus group in this list to open it in the stimulus editor. When the photostim module is started in on-demand mode, double clicking a group will execute an on-demand stimulus request on that group. The list background turns red in this mode to indicate the change in functionality.

Up

Moves the selected stimulus group up in the list.

Down

Moves the selected stimulus group down in the list.

Copy

Makes a duplicate copy of the selected stimulus group

New

Creates a new empty stimulus group

Edit

Opens the stimulus editor to edit the selected stimulus group

Delete

Deletes the selected stimulus group

Sequence Mode

Stimulus Group Sequence

Specifies the sequence of stimulus groups by ID.

Number of Sequence

Specifies the number of times the complete sequence should be iterated through before the experiment is complete and the photostim module automatically aborts.

On-Demand Mode

Allow multiple outputs

Indicates whether a stimulus should be allowed to be triggered multiple times after an on-demand request is made.

  • When checked, after an on-demand request, the requested stimulus can be triggered multiple times

  • When not checked, after an on-demand request, the requested stimulus can be triggered once. Subsequent triggers will do nothing until another on-demand stimulus request is made.

Enable Hotkeys

Enables hotkeys when the photostim module is started in on-demand mode. Hotkeys are:

  • 0-9: Hitting a number key between 1 and 9 will execute an on-demand stimulus request on that group. Hitting the zero key N times then hitting non-zero key X will execute a request for stimulus group (10*N+X), eg a key sequence of 0-0-4 will execute a request for stimulus group 24.

  • t: Send a soft trigger signal

  • s: Send a soft sync sugnal

  • a: Abort the photostim module

External Simulus Selection:Trig Term

Specifies PFI terminal that triggers an external stimulus request

External Simulus Selection:Terms

Specifies PFI terminals to read when external stimulus request is made

External Simulus Selection:Stimuli

Specifies stimulus groups that correspond to each PFI terminal specified above

Stimulation Controls

Monitor: Show

Enables a real-time overlay of scan mirror positions in channel image windows

Monitor: Logging

Enables logging of stimulus outputs to disk

Start/Abort

Starts or aborts photostim module

Trigger

Sends a software trigger signal

Sync

Sends a software sync signal

Status

Indicates the status of the photostim module