Knowledge Base

Problem

A user wants to understand the temporal resolution of their PhenoTyper lickometer configuration and whether changing the jumper settings to TTL mode will improve or reduce detection accuracy.

Details

Applies to older PhenoTyper systems using lickometers connected to the Noldus USB I/O box via SDI (Serial Data Interface) polling. The default configuration uses SDI polling, which provides higher temporal resolution for lick detection. An alternative TTL mode is available by changing the jumper settings inside the lickometer hardware, but this reduces temporal resolution and typically leads to missed licks.

Solution

1. The default lickometer configuration uses SDI polling via the Noldus USB I/O box. This mode provides the highest temporal resolution for lick event detection and is the recommended configuration.
2. If TTL output is required for integration with external devices, the jumper settings inside the lickometer can be changed to switch the device to TTL mode. Open the lickometer housing carefully to access the internal jumper.
3. Be aware that switching to TTL mode reduces temporal resolution compared to SDI polling, which typically results in missed licks, especially during rapid licking bouts.
4. If high temporal precision is important for your experiment, keep the default SDI polling configuration.
5. If you are unsure whether your current hardware supports SDI polling with your I/O box model, contact Noldus Support with your order/system details to confirm compatibility before changing jumper settings.