Knowledge Base

Experiment in EthoVision XT

Arena-Hardware Mapping

Devices are assigned automatically to one arena based on the scheme defined in the configuration window. For example, all the devices of Fear Conditioning System 1 at COM 1 are listed under Arena 1.

• The Device Type column shows the types of device currently selected. If the type you want to use does not appear, add a new device.
• The Device Name column contains names like Device A, Device B, etc. These are generic names for a specific type of device, which you can reference when programming device activation in the Trial Control Settings. You may rename them to Shock, Tone, etc.
• The Arena 1, Arena 2, etc. columns contain the names of unique physical devices. These are automatically assigned based on which FCS system connected to a specific COM port is associated with which arena in EthoVision XT. Your task is to assign each physical device to a specific arena.

Important: Test the devices after assignment. You can also test the devices in the Trial Control Settings.

Note: The item UB FCS IR Light listed in the Arena - Hardware Mapping window controls the IR lamp located at the top-left corner of the cubicle, not the IR light provided by the light box. You can control the IR light of the light box by turning the knob of the IR controller.

Add a New Device

If the FCS devices are not listed in the Arena-Hardware Mapping window, do the following:

1. Click the Add Device button.
2. Under Device Type, select a device (e.g. UB FCS Tone).
3. Under Device Name, either accept the default name or enter a new, meaningful name, for example Tone.
   • If you plan to activate a device type in all the cages at the same time, a generic name like Shock or Tone is sufficient.
   • If you plan to activate a device type in different cages at different times, specify a unique device name, for example Tone for Cage 1, and assign that device only to the arena associated with that cage.
4. Locate the column for the arena you want to assign the device to, and select the physical device from the drop-down list. For example, under Arena 1, select UB FCS Shock 1; under Arena 2, select Ugo Basile FCS Shock 2, etc.

The number of devices available in a list depends on how many COM ports you have declared. Make sure you do not select the same unique device under two or more arenas.

Examples of Arena-Hardware Mapping

EthoVision XT Controlling One Cage

Note: The item UB FCS IR Light controls the IR lamp at the top-left corner of the cubicle, not the IR light box.

EthoVision XT Controlling Four Cages - Configuration 1

Use this configuration when you plan to administer a stimulus in all FCS cages at the same time, for example to activate the tone in all cages exactly one minute after the start of the trial.

Define a device name that is valid for all the cages (arenas). Under Arena 1, Arena 2, etc., select the physical devices for each arena.

In the following example, Device A represents the foot shock for all the cages. When you use a hardware action Device A - Shocker On in the Trial Control Settings, that action is carried out in all the cages.

• Make sure not to select the same physical device twice for two arenas.
• Repeat the steps for the remaining devices.

Note: You can also use this configuration when tracking starts at different times in different arenas, for example when you release the subject at different times and EthoVision XT starts tracking after the subject has been detected.

EthoVision XT Controlling Four Cages - Configuration 2

Use this configuration when you need to apply different protocols to different cages. For example, to provide a stimulus after the subject has been immobile for one minute, or to give a shock in cage 1 after 1 minute and a shock in cage 2 after a random time. In such cases, the activation of a stimulus device is cage-specific.

Create this configuration by linking a specific device name (e.g. Device A) only to a specific physical device in one arena (e.g. Arena 1). Device A should not be assigned to other arenas. You must add four new devices of the same type and assign each to one arena.

For example, in the case of UB FCS Tone:

• Device A: UB FCS Tone 1 under Arena 1
• Device B: UB FCS Tone 2 under Arena 2
• Device C: UB FCS Tone 3 under Arena 3
• Device D: UB FCS Tone 4 under Arena 4

Additionally:

• Remember to select <No device allocated> in the remaining cells of the table.
• With this setup, tone stimuli are presented at different times in different cages. If the cubicles are near each other, the animal in cubicle 1 may be affected by tone presentation in adjacent cubicles. Make sure the cubicles are far apart or located in different rooms when using non-simultaneous tone presentation.
• Repeat the steps for the other device types you want to use.

For more information about applying different protocols to different cages, see Applying Different Protocols to Different Arenas in the EthoVision XT 18 - Trial and Hardware Control - Reference Manual.

Test the FCS Devices

Prerequisites

• All connections are set as described in the Physical Setup section.
• You have created an experiment and specified the FCS in the Experiment Settings.
• You have drawn and calibrated the arenas.
• You have specified the FCS devices for each arena.

Procedure for Actions

This procedure applies to: Visible Light, Tone, Shocker, White Noise, Fan, and IR Light.

1. In EthoVision XT, choose Setup > Trial Control Settings and open one of the existing profiles.
2. In the Components pane, under Actions, click the button next to the name of the device you want to test.
3. In the window that appears, select the device, the type of action, and adjust its settings, then click Test.
4. Verify that the device works as expected. Next, click Reset to reset all devices to their default values.

If the action is carried out in another cubicle, the wrong device has been selected in step 3, or the devices have not been mapped correctly in the Arena Settings.

Procedure for the UB FCS Door

This procedure applies to the device UB FCS Door.

Source: EthoVision XT 18 - Application Manual, Noldus Information Technology