title: SuperState: a computer program for the control of operant behavioral experimentation.
abstract: Operant behavioral researches require precise control of experimental devices for delivering stimuli and monitoring behavioral responses. The author developed a software solution named SuperState for controlling hardware devices and running reinforcement schedules. The Microsoft Windows compatible software was written by use of an object-oriented programming language Borland Delphi 5.0, which has simplified the programming of the application. SuperState is a stand-alone easy-to-use green software, without the need for the experimenter to master any scripting languages. It features: (1) control of multiple operant cages running independent reinforcement schedules; (2) enough cage devices (16 digital inputs and 16 digital outputs for each cage) suitable for the need of most operant behavioral equipments; (3) control of most standard ISA-type digital interface cards including Med-Associates Super-port cards and a PCI-type card AC6412, and highly expandable to support other PCI-type interface cards; (4) high-resolution device control (1ms); (5) a built-in real-time cumulative recorder; (6) extensive data analyzing including event recorder, cumulative recorder, block analyzing; the summarized results can be transferred easily to Microsoft Excel spreadsheets through the Clipboard.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, Ningbo 315010, Zhejiang, PR China. fqzhang@nbip.net
authors.forename: Fuqiang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012984:Software; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014584:User-Computer Interface