Knowledge Base

Conduct Maze Software Install

Maze Engineers software ConductMaze is a light-weight adapter to EthoVision to control the execution of automated mazes (T-, Y-, 8 arm, 12 arm and 16 arm maze, etc.) or apparatuses (shocker, fear conditioning, etc.)

• The software adapter can be deployed in a folder on the same machine where EthoVision software is running. For example, the folder can be C:\appConductMaze\bin.
• The executable ConductMazeUI.exe is a light-weight Windows UI application that needs to start before experiments with an automated maze or apparatus. The application accepts commands from EthoVision and controls the execution of the commands.

The folder contains the following executables and dlls:

• ConductMazeUI.exe — Conduct maze adapter running on EthoVision machine
• ConductMazeUI.exe.config — The executable configuration file
• ConductMazeLib.dll — A Maze Conduct library dll
• CoreAudio.dll — A Maze Conduct library dll
• EthoVisionSimulator.exe — An EthoVision simulator for testing without actually invoking EthoVision
• galasoft.mvvmlight.dll — A Maze Conduct library dll
• MazeController.exe — The executable to be invoked by EthoVision

Once ConductMazeUI starts, it connects to the maze via a comport and is ready to accept commands from EthoVision.

USB to 232 Driver Install

USB to 232 driver installation on the software machine is required. The driver is included in the cable box.

Start ConductMazeUI

1. Step 1: Choose a Maze or Apparatus Type

   The user must choose a maze type in the ConductMazeUI.exe.config file:

   • <add key="maze_type" value="D-Maze"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="H-Maze"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="R-Maze"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="R-MazeV2"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="T-Maze"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="Y-Maze"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="Shocker"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="R-MazeX4"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="T-Maze3D"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="L-Maze"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="Circular-Avoidance"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="Fear-Conditioning"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="Avoidance"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="IDED"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="Operant"/>
   • <add key="maze_type" value="Y-mazeV2"/>

   R-Maze represents the Radial 8 arm maze, D-Maze represents the Dodecagon 12 arm maze, H-Maze represents the 16 arm maze, and R-MazeX4 represents the 8 arm maze with 4 extra doors (to partition the maze into T and Y).

2. Step 2: Choose the Comport

   When the micro-controller is connected to your computer, a port is created as shown in the Device Manager. If the device is not shown in the Ports section, it will appear in a different section. This means the computer could not find the driver for the hardware device. In this case, you will need to install the driver (small disc included in the UNITEK box) which is included in shipping.

3. Step 3: Start ConductMazeUI

   Double-click on ConductMazeUI.exe. The main window will appear.

4. Step 4: Connect to Comport

   Once your computer recognizes the hardware, choose the comport that matches the one shown in the Device Manager, then click the Connect button.

Experiment Setup in EthoVision

In EthoVision, create an External Command Action with a name. In the Select program to run field, choose MazeController.exe and in the Command line options field, add open command(s) such as D10. The options represent an action to open a door, close a door, dispense a pellet, or a combo action. The following examples show some user configuration setups:

• Example 1: MazeController.exe D10 — Sends a command to open Door 1
• Example 2: MazeController.exe D11 — Sends a command to close Door 1
• Example 3: MazeController.exe D10;D20;D30 — Sends a combo action to open Door 1, Door 2, and Door 3

In general, certain condition(s) are required to open a door, close a door, or dispense a pellet.

Simple Commands

8 Arm Maze (R-Maze — old version):

• Open doors: D10, D20, D30, D40, D50, D60, D70, D80
• Close doors: D11, D21, D31, D41, D51, D61, D71, D81
• Dispense a pellet: FT01, FT02, FT03, FT04, FT05, FT06, FT07, FT08

8 Arm Maze with 4 Extra Doors (R-MazeX4):

• Open doors: D010, D020, D030, D040, D050, D060, D070, D080, DX10, DX30, DX60, DX70
• Close doors: D011, D021, D031, D041, D051, D061, D071, D081, DX11, DX31, DX61, DX71

8 Arm Maze (R-MazeV2 — current version):

• Open doors: D010, D020, D030, D040, D050, D060, D070, D080
• Close doors: D011, D021, D031, D041, D051, D061, D071, D081
• Deliver reward (pellet or water): FT01, FT02, FT03, FT04, FT05, FT06, FT07, FT08

12 Arm Maze (D-Maze):

• Open doors: D010, D020, D030, D040, D050, D060, D070, D080, D090, D100, D110, D120
• Close doors: D011, D021, D031, D041, D051, D061, D071, D081, D091, D101, D111, D121
• Dispense a pellet: FT01 through FT12

16 Arm Maze (H-Maze):

• Open doors: D010, D020, D030, D040, D050, D060, D070, D080, D090, D100, D110, D120, D130, D140, D150, D160
• Close doors: D011, D021, D031, D041, D051, D061, D071, D081, D091, D101, D111, D121, D131, D141, D151, D161
• Dispense a pellet: FT01 through FT16

T-Maze 3D (3 Door T-Maze):

• Open doors: D10, D20, D30
• Close doors: D11, D21, D31

Y-Maze:

• Open doors: D10, D20, D30
• Close doors: D11, D21, D31

Shocker:

• Start shocker: T=600;D=2;N=100;I=0.5

• T — Total time in seconds
• D — Shock pulse duration in seconds
• N — Number of shocks
• I — Shock current in mA (0–4.0)

To terminate the shock session, click the Send button in the lower right corner. Additional information is available in the ConductMazeUI help menu.

R-Maze Reward Type

For R-MazeV2, the reward can be pellet or water. When the application is launched, an 8 Arm Reward tab appears. By default, the reward type is set to Pellet, corresponding to the pellet dispensers. If you use a lick-o-meter device, select a reward type of Water.

The commands from EthoVision to deliver reward (pellet or water) are the same:

• Deliver reward (pellet or water): FT01, FT02, FT03, FT04, FT05, FT06, FT07, FT08

Automation Status on ConductMaze

When the experiment runs, the External Command Action is invoked and the command is sent to ConductMazeUI. On the left panel of ConductMazeUI, the command from EthoVision is logged. On the right panel, the command execution status is logged. ConductMazeUI can be minimized if you do not need to monitor the status.

ConductMazeUI also provides functionality for users to send manual commands to the automated radial arm maze for testing purposes.

Source: Conduct Maze Integration with EthoVision, Noldus Information Technology