| Gary Freegard, Senior Technician |
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| My roles mainly involve support for teaching, research projects and IT. This includes designing, building and programming of
bespoke electronic circuits(with microcontrollers) for experiments. I also provide support and advice in the use of psychophysiological
measuring equipment such as EEG, ECG, SCR, NIRS, eyetrackers and motion capture systems(supplied by Biopac, AD Instruments, BioSemi/Besa, NeXus32, NeuroScan, SR Research, Artinis and NaturalPoint), and design/build PC based tasks written
in software such as Java, JavaScript(Embedding tasks in Qualtrics), Python, Visual Basic, VB.NET, E-Prime and Opensesame. |
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Areas of special interest are: micro-controllers, PC interfacing, realtime timing, PC hardware, MEMS(accelerometers/gyros), multiple threads programming,
electronics, object-oriented approach to programming , quasi-random number generation (when a psychologist asks for random they never truly mean random) and VB.net. Click here for some videos of VB.net programs that I have written.
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The following list of projects does not show any work that is necessarily directly research related, but is a list of items that I believe would help support research in the future.
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This site has been tested on Firefox 11.0, Internet Explorer 8, Opera 11.62, Chrome 18.0 and Safari 5.1.5 for video playback. In Internet Explorer 9 you will have to right click on the video and then select play.
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Java tasks. Develop Java based tasks, these can easily be sent to participants to complete on there own computer be it Windows,Mac or Linux based Operating System.
Here is a BART example, once downloaded extract to a folder. Inside the setup folder is the burst.txt file contains the amount to win per pump on the first line and on the others
(each line being a new balloon) is the point at which the balloon will burst, plus the instructions text file
When run it will create a text file, the filename will be year, month, day, hour and minutes e.g. 201802151345.txt. This file holds the results for each "pump" and "collect", there are elapsed time in milliseconds for each "pump",
balloon count, pump count and total winnings.
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Interface unit to replace parallel port (plus Stimulator output). This is an update to the Shocker PC interface, which is used to convert the signal from a PC parallel port into one
that is suitable for the Biopac and stimulator. The new unit receives power and signals via the USB, and convert these serial signals into a) an 8 bit
parallel signal, used for event marking, and b) a signal that can drive a stimulator, (time restricted pulsed output). All these outputs will be
isolated (3KV) from the incoming signal for safety reasons. Plus as an extra safety precaution a watchdog timer is used to ensure that if there is a
problem that could cause excess shock to be administered then the device is reset
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Interface unit to replace parallel port. Based on the above unit, but instead of a stimulator output it will have an input facility.
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USB timer, further development of. This will enable users to measure the time between two or more (7 max) events to a resolution of 1µ second (one millionth of a second),
the results are sent to the users computer via USB Serial communication, thus allowing the PC to record the data and not the user.
This was originally developed to speed up the testing process of the reaction pad, and also the subsequent tesing of other devices used in the department
to measure participants reaction times. This version used an 8 bit microcontroller but I plan to use a 32 bit microcontroller for the final version as there is not any real cost difference
between the two but performance of the 32 bit microcontroller is at least 3 times better.
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Hicks Pad reaction timers, another update. This will based on using a Standard LCD touch screen unit, with an additional high speed touch screen on top. The unit will be multifunctional (not just Hicks), mobile and completely self contained i.e. have its on computer. The high speed touch screen (1millisecond accuracy) will be designed and built in house, this won't be used to control the cursor position, but just to get position and timing.
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USB Heart Rate monitor with GSR. compatible with Mac OS , Linux and Windows. This device uses an ear clip to measure the heart rate and two finger electrode to measure GSR,
the combined data is output via USB (serial mode).
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Audio switch, further development of. This will be a redesign of the current unit. It will use a dsPic which has a built in 2 channel audio DAC.
This will allow the unit to create its own audio, the current unit uses an external audio signal. This will allow the researcher to change the audio signal
within the experiment if required.
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Accelerometer/Gyros, investigate the use of. With the ability of creating electronic devices that can be programmed to act like a
USB HID device(keyboard, mouse or joystick), we now have options in the way that
we interface with the PC. These devices are MEMS (micro electro mechanical systems)
, they are small and fairly easy to interface to microcontrollers. These devices are used in almost every smart phone.
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USB Joystick Video
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USB Air Mouse Video
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Currently these examples are not calculating the angle but are using the acceleration (due to gravity) in the x and y direction. Ideally the
angle should be used but this will require a significant piece of programming as these microcontrollers do not have the ability to calculate
the square root or the arctangents of numbers , which is necessary to calculate the angle.
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Embedding tasks in Qualtrics. Using JavaScript it is possible to embed tasks into Qualtrics, the only issue is that all the raw data is held within one variable, and therefore the required data needs to be extracted before analysis.
Tasks so far completed are:
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Delay Discounting Food |
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Delay Discounting Money
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Iowa Gambling Task
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Arrow Flankers
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N-Back
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BART
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Visual Analogue Scale
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MRI Compatible foot switch. There was a requirement for participants to make responses using their feet whilst in the MRI. As the cost to purchase such a system was too high I was asked if it was possible to make.
The outcome were two foot switches, which were made with a 3D printer, each with a switch that contained minimal magnetic material.
These are then mounted on a purpose built frame, made from MDF, with the ability to change the height (3 positions) of the switches to match participants feet. For connectivity MRI compatible leads from Biopac were used. The signals from the switches
are sent to a purpose built USB HID interface, this interface turned these signals into simulated keyboard presses (8 and 9 keys).
Front image Side image
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Parallel Port Card dll for 32/64 bit Windows. New desktop PCs are generally be supplied without a parallel port, as it has been replaced by USB based ports. Unfortunately this doesn't
allow users to easily send triggers/markers between PCs i.e. between stimulus PC and EEG PC. I was able to modify the source code for the standard 32/64 bit driver (based on inpout32.dll), which now allows the use of parallel port add in cards on Windows 32/64 based PCs. The dll needed
to be modified as the address range was limited to 0x7FFF. Info
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Modernisation of Hicks Pad reaction timers. Current pads rely on using old PCs (Pentium2/3) with specialist cards. Replacement
pads have onboard microcontrollers for millisecond accuracy and USB ports. This enables the pad to be connected to any new
PC (currently Windows only) for setup and collection of data. Future developments: Bluetooth connectivity would allow multiple
pads to one PC. A totally self contained unit no need for a separate PC. Video
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USB Heart Rate monitor , compatible with Mac OS , Linux and Windows. This device uses an ear clip to measure the heart rate and the output is via USB (serial mode). It also has a push button
which can be used to mark events.
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USB rotary rating pad. compatible with Mac OS , Linux and Windows. These pads are designed to use existing drivers in the
operating systems, and so are “plug and play”. These are designed to be user configurable, allowing the output to be change from the following,
0 to 4, 0 to 6, 0 to 9, up/down arrow keys or left/right arrow keys. Video
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USB reaction pad , compatible with Mac OS , Linux and Windows. These pads are designed to use existing drivers in the
operating systems, and so are “plug and play”. The pads offer a 2 millisecond reaction time resolution, which is significantly
better than a USB keyboard(10-12ms). The pads can be designed to a user specific needs, within the available parts. Future
development: The addition of an external trigger input, thus allowing the unit to measure the reaction time without an USB/system
latencies.For further information Or watch a
video
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Pursuit Rotor, development of software version. The standard Pursuit Rotor is a variable speed rotary turntable that has a circular target. This target is made up of two or more metal rings; the participant has to try to keep a wand, which has a metal tip, on the target.
The wand is connected to a counter, which is used to indicate the number of times that the target was hit.
I have developed a software version of this test to see whether it is feasible to replace the mechanical system. Video
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The benefits of this system are:
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The target increases to the desired speed over a user-set time period. |
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The ability to have multiple tests.
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The ability to introduce a delay between user position and visual feedback position.
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The data is recorded in a standard CSV format.
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The program is able to compensate for different ratio screens and graphics tablets.
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It is portable, can be used on a laptop or desktop, with either a mouse or graphics tablet.
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It is possible to have different target trajectories, standard is circular, others are rectangular and triangular.
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It will work on all current Windows operating system from XP up, as long as there is a driver for the graphics tablet.
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It is significantly more flexible than the mechanical system.
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Audio switch, High Speed This is a unit that is capable of switching an audio signal on and off when it is required with
a higher degree of accuracy and precision than is achievable when using standard PC hardware and software.
For further information |
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Vigilance This program was originally developed in the 90s using the latest PCs and written in Pascal for use in MS-Dos.Video
The purpose of this test is to show a series of random numbers on the screen, at a rate of 100 per minute, each number being shown for 150 milliseconds every 600 milliseconds. The participant presses the space bar when they see three consecutive odd or even numbers.
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Unfortunately this code will no longer function on any new desktop PCs or laptops. To enable the continued use of this test, I wrote a version in VB.net that uses DirectX for the graphics as this enabled the synchronising of the displaying a number with the screen refresh.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get the program to work on a Windows Vista, so after a little rewrite to incorporate SlimDX (a wrapper for DirectX),
the program is now able to run on multiple Windows based operating systems (32 and 64 bit).Video
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Shocker PC interface, development of. This was initially required to allow a first person shooter up game (Half Life 2) which has been modified to carrying out an experiment, to apply a shock
via either the AD Instruments or Biopac stimulator. The current version is used as interface between the presentation PC and stimulator and or Biopac MP150. The shock output is 50Hz signal, with the
shock being on for 2ms, the maximum duration of the pulsed output is 250ms. It will not except another trigger for another 250ms. Plus as an extra safety precaution a watchdog timer is used to ensure that if there is a problem that could cause excess shock to be administered then the device is reset. This unit is designed to be used where all the equipment is powered via
a medical grade isolation tranformer.
A version which uses opto-couplers is currently being designed, this will provide a level electrical isolation between the PC and Biopac/shocker that is in excess of that than can be provided by
Biopac's own isolator.
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"In press" & "accepted" Articles
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Reed, Phil., Smale, D., Freegard, Gary. & Owen, D.(2017).Human performance on random interval schedules Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Learning and Cognition
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Young, H.A., Williams, C., Pink, A.E., Freegard, G., Owens, A. & Benton D. (2017). Getting to the heart of the matter: Does aberrant interoceptive processing contribute towards emotional eating?PLOSone.
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May, R., Stewart, I., Baez, L., Freegard, G. & Dymond, S. (2017). Arbitrarily applicable spatial relational responding. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.
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Bradshaw, C. A., Freegard, G., Reed, P.(2015) Human performance on random ratio and random interval schedules, performance awareness and verbal instructions Learning & Behavior
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Munnelly, A., Freegard, G., & Dymond, S. (2013). Constructing Relational Sentences: Establishing Arbitrarily Applicable Comparative Relations with the Relational Completion Procedure. The Psychological Record. 63, 1-18.
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Dymond, S., Schlund, M. W., Roche, B., De Houwer, J. & Freegard, G. (2012) Safe from harm: Learned, instructed, and symbolic generalization pathways of human threat-avoidance. PLOSone
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Hooper, N., Stewart,I., Duffy, C., Freegard, G., & McHugh, L. (2012) Modelling the direct and indirect effects of thought suppression on personal choice. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science,1, 73-82
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Kell Grandjean da Costaa, Menna Price, Henrique Bortolottia, Maria Luíza de Medeiros Ręgoa, Daniel Aranha Ręgo Cabral, Raquel David Langer, Gleydciane Alexandre Fernandes, Hassan Mohamed Elsangedy, Eduardo Bodnariuc Fontes. (2019)Fat mass predicts food-specific inhibitory control in children. Physiology & Behavior
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Newstead S, Young H, Benton D, Jiga-Boy G, Andrade Sienz ML, Clement RM, Boy F (2017).Acute and repetitive fronto-cerebellar tDCS stimulation improves mood in non-depressed participants.Experimental Brain Research
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Xia, W., Dymond, S., Lloyd, K., Vervliet, B. (2017).Partial reinforcement of avoidance and resistance to extinction in humans Behaviour Research and Therapy.
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Price, M., Higgs, S. & Lee, M. (2016). Snack intake is reduced using an implicit high-level construal cue. Health Psychology,Vol 35(8), Aug 2016, 923-926.
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Reed, P. (2015). The structure of random ratio responding in humans Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Learning and Cognition, 41(4), 419-431
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Still, K., May, R., Rehfeldt, R., Whelan, R. & Dymond, S. (2015). Facilitating derived requesting skills with a touchscreen tablet computer for children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 19, 44-58
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Cameron, G., Schlund, M. & Dymond, S. (2015) Generalization of socially transmitted and instructed avoidance. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 9
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Jiga-Boy, G., Toma, C. & Corneille, O. (2014). Work more, then feel more: The influence of effort on affective predictions PLOS ONE
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Hassoulas, A., McHugh, L. & Reed, P. (2013). Avoidance and behavioural flexibility in obsessive compulsive disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 44, 31-45.
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Osborne, L. A., Middleton, R. M., Jones, K.H., Ford, D. V., Noble, J. G. (2013) Desirability and expectations of the UK MS Register: Views of people with MS. International Journal of Medical Informatics
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Wang, T., Dymond, S. (2013).Event-related potential correlates of emergent inference in human arbitrary relational learning Behavioural Brain Research.
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Kingsley, M., Penas-Ruiz, C., Terry, C., Russel, M. (2013). Effects of carbohydrate-hydration strategies on glucose metabolism, sprint performance and hydration during a soccer match simulation in recreational players Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Volume 17, Issue 2, 239-243.
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McHugh, L. Procter, J. Herzog, M. Schock, A. Reed, P.(2012) The effect of mindfulness on extinction and behavioral resurgence Learning & Behavior
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Bradshaw, C. A., & Reed, P. (2012). Relationship between contingency awareness and human performance on random ratio and random interval schedules. Learning and Motivation, 43, 55-65.
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Reynolds, G. & Reed, P. (2012). Effects of a Downward Shift in Reinforcer Value on Stimulus Over-Selectivity. Learning and Motivation, 28(2), 148-153.
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Dymond, S., Bateman, H., & Dixon, M. R. (2010). Derived transformation of children’s pregambling game playing. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 94, 353-363.
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