Knowledge Base

Physical Setup

Components (Example)

Devices

• PC with EthoVision XT installed.
• Noldus USB-IO Box.
• PhenoTyper with adapted Top Unit (optional).
• Prizmatix LED controller (for different light wavelengths).

Important: To control the LED through EthoVision, on the back panel of the LED controller, near/below the TTL connector, select Ext (but if you want to activate the LED manually using the button located on the front panel, you should select Int). The other switch on the LED controller, just near/above the Ain 0-5V connector, should be in the Int position.

• Prizmatix Pulser (left) or PulserPlus (right) (with advanced setup).

Main Cables and Fiber Cords

Port names are shown in bold; power cords and video cables are not listed.

• USB cable (USB-A to USB-B): Use this cable to connect the EthoVision XT PC to the USB-IO box [USB, type-B]. Also use this cable to connect the Pulser to the PC.
• UTP to BNC cable: To connect the USB-IO box [TTL control] to the LED Controller [TTL] or Pulser [Trig. In].
  • Note 1: Each TTL port of the USB-IO box has two output lines. The white RCA jack corresponds to Output 1 and the red RCA jack to Output 2. Take note of this when selecting the TTL commands in EthoVision XT.
  • Note 2: If you received UTP-to-BNC cables with four BNC connectors, only use those marked with Output to connect the LED controller or Pulser.
• BNC to BNC cable: From Pulser [TTL Out] to LED Controller [TTL].
• Fiber patch cord, core 1000 µm: To connect the LED Controller [front panel] to the PhenoTyper Top Unit [Fiber Coupler adapter].
• Fiber patch cord, core 1000 µm: Located inside the PhenoTyper Top Unit. Connects the FC adaptor to the Rotary joint.
• Single fiber: To connect the Rotary joint fixed on the bottom plate of the PhenoTyper Top Unit to the implantable cannula. Available in various core diameters (e.g. 500 µm).

Other Components

• Zirconia ferrules (sleeves) for 2.5 mm and 1.25 mm cannulae.
• Optogenetics implantable cannulae (2.5 mm, 1.25 mm).

Basic Setup

Aim

With a basic setup, without the Pulser, EthoVision XT controls activation of the LED directly via the Noldus USB-IO box. With this setup you can, for example, activate the LED for one second.

Notes

• Activation of the LED can be repeated during a trial using the Subrule function in the Trial Control Settings.
• For generating two pulses of different length, you must create separate Trial Control commands.

Limitations

• The pulse cannot be shorter than 0.1 s.
• Accuracy of onset, offset and duration of a pulse is approximately the time taken by three samples. When tracking at 30 fps, this time is 0.1 s. The higher the sample rate, the higher the accuracy.

Connection Scheme

Cable connections for controlling the LED controller directly from EthoVision XT and the USB-IO box:

• On the back panel of the LED controller, under the TTL connector, set the switch to Ext to enable external control of the LED.
• Connect the LED controller to the USB-IO box using the white RCA jack if you use Output 1, or with the red jack if you use Output 2.
• Set the switch near/above the Ain 0-5V connector to Int so you can manually adjust the light intensity using the knob on the front panel.

Note: If you received UTP-to-BNC cables with four BNC connectors, only use those marked with Output to connect the LED controller.

Advanced Setup (With Pulser)

Aim

With this setup, EthoVision XT controls activation of the LED via the Prizmatix Pulser and PulserPlus devices. With this setup you can send out very specific sequences of pulses, at a frequency higher (max 0.5 kHz) than with the basic setup. The sequence is predefined in the Pulser/PulserPlus.

Note: PulserPlus is the device with three BNC connectors.

Note: For information about how to use the Pulser with its own software, see the Prizmatix Pulser/PulserPlus user manual which comes with the device.

Connection Scheme

• If you received UTP-to-BNC cables with four BNC connectors, only use those marked with Output to connect the Trigger In/Trig. In port on the Pulser/PulserPlus.
• On the LED controller, make sure that the switch near/below the TTL connector is in the Ext position. Also keep the switch near/above the Ain 0-5V connector in the Int position.
• Connect the Trigger In / Trig. In port of the Pulser/PulserPlus to the USB-IO box with the white RCA jack if you use Output 1, or with the red jack if you use Output 2.
• Connect the Pulser/PulserPlus to the PC with a USB cable.

Important: If you have the PulserPlus, set the Operation mode switch to PC. For more information on how to install the Pulser/PulserPlus, see the user manual that comes with the device.

Measure the LED Light Output

In some circumstances you may want to measure the LED light intensity at the tip of the cannulae. For this you need a sensor and a power meter. Note that a standard power meter may not give accurate measurements.

For suggestions on suitable power meters, see: https://www.prizmatix.com/blog/main/0/23/Optical-Power-Meters-for-Optogenetics

An example is the Thorlabs S140C or Thorlabs S142C coupled with the Thorlabs PM100USB interface, which shows the measurements on a computer screen.

See also: https://www.thorlabs.com/navigation.cfm?guide_id=37

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