The trigger box is used during the set up of all clinical system experiments.

The trigger box allows the control of the trigger outputs (from Presentation or sensors: mics, photodiode, force sensor, accelerometer, etc…) during the experiments and simplifies the connection to clinical DC channels. In addition, it can be used to split the triggers to difference EEG systems in order to synchronize them (i.e., 2 clinical systems, clinical and laminar system, or more ).

 

For Experiments Using Presentation Laptop: 

   Plug the Presentation Laptop into the parallel port on the front of the Trigger Box labeled “From Laptop”.  The LEDs D0 to D7 allow control of the trigger activity during the experiment. During the experiment the Splitter Box should be close to the Presentation laptop, so the front panel has to be oriented away from the subject to avoid additional visual stimulation.

Trigger Box Back Panel:

On the  back of the Trigger Box, plug the parallel to DC channel cable into the parallel port labeled “To Clinical System”

If using Second clinical system, plug a second output into the “//SPLITTER” parallel port.

  1. If using Nspike, plug a parallel to parallel cable in the “//SPLITTER” port.
  2. If using a second clinical system, plug a second parallel to DC channel cable into the “//SPLITTER” parallel port.

Plug the 8 green and blue jacks and the 3 black jacks (DC9,10,11) into the DC channels on the clinical system as listed below:

pink label on DC plug                          Jack in wall

D1                         =                        DC1

D2                         =                        DC2

D3                         =                        DC3

D4                         =                        DC4

D5                         =                        DC5

D6                         =                        DC6

D7                         =                        DC7

D8                         =                        DC8

D9                         =                        DC9

D10                       =                        DC10

D11                       =                        DC11

BNC D0 to D7 inputs/outputs can be connected to BNC cables to send additional triggers or to use them as additional control inputs for external devices

 

For Experiments Using Sensor Components (i.e., audio, microphone): 

Plug the audio/microphone jacks into the audio or BNC inputs (labeled “Sensor 1, Sensor 2, etc.”) located on the front right of the Trigger Box.

To control the analogical trigger switch the Trigger Box on, select the sensitivity range of the sensors (0.5 or 5V) the buttons allow to set the sensitivity to detect the triggers. The electronic components of the sensors channels are powered with 4 AA batteries you can access on the back of the box with a screw driver.

On the back of the Trigger Box, the sensor channels outputs can also be split with BNC cable to other systems.

Plug the corresponding black Sensor jacks from the parallel to DC cable into DC channels on the CS:

S0=DC9

S1=DC10

S2=DC11

S3=DC12

For Experiments Using Magnet Driver: 

Plug the two magnet driver BNC cables from the Magnet Driver Box (labeled “A” and “B”) into BNC inputs on the Trigger Box (D0 to D7).

Presentation input

Presentation software allow to use input to control experiments.

On the back of the Trigger Box there is 4 BNC channels inputs connected to the “from Laptop” parallel port to allow Presntation input signal (analogical or numerical)

Testing Triggers: 

Triggers channels D0 to D7 can be tested after setting up each experiment using the PrinterPortTest software on the desktop of the Presentation Laptop via the parallel input “from Laptop”.

Launch testPport.exe and check the triggers channels you want to test.

Hit “Send” and the corresponding lights on the trigger box should light up.