Configuring Variables

Opticka uses the taskSequence class to specify one or more variable names and values [nVar] that can be randomised using balanced blocked repetition and applied to one or multiple stimuli during a task. The taskSequence class can also specify independent trial level [trialVar] and block level [blockVar] randomisation values. In addition, you can add a staircase (needs Palamedes toolbox), to run alongside the taskSequence (see the Saccadic Countermanding core protocol for an example of using a staircase).

Variable modifiers

Variables can have modifiers, best explained by example:

1. Name = angle
2. Values = [-90 0 90]
3. Affects = 1
4. Modifier = 2; 90

In this case, angle is varied -90° 0° 90° for stimulus 1. Stimulus 2 has the modifier 90 applied, so for example if stimulus 1 = -90° then stimulus 2 = -90° + 90° = 0°.

Modifiers can also be string commands:

1. 2; 'shift(2)' - shift +2 places in the Value list. For example say for stimulus 1 Values = [-90 -45 0 45 90 135 180] and for this trial the fourth value 45 is randomly selected. For stimulus 2 we then shift two places to fetch the sixth value 135. Shift wraps from end to start (e.g. if seventh value 180 was selected for stimulus 1 then second value -45 would be selected for stimulus 2), and you can use negative values (-1 would select the third place 0 for example).
2. 2; 'invert' — take the current value and invert it, so if the current value is +10° then invert will make stimulus 2 -10°.
3. 2; 'xvar(10, 0.5)' — For xyPosition variables you can add a variable x position. In this case whatever the X position is, xvar(10) will add or subtract (50% probability) 10°. So for example if X position is 0° then the modifier could result in +10° or -10° with a 50% probability. Change 0.5 to change the probability.
4. 2; 'yvar(10, 0.5)' — Same as xvar but for Y axis.
5. 2; 'xoffset(5)' — For xyPosition add a fixed X position offset, so in this case add 5° to whatever value the X axis position is.
6. 2; 'xoffset(5)' — For xyPosition add a fixed X position offset, so in this case add 5° for stimulus 2 to whatever value the X axis position is of stimulus 1.
7. 2; 'yoffset(5)' — For xyPosition add a fixed Y position offset, so in this case add 5° for stimulus 2 to whatever value the Y axis position is of stimulus 1.

Block and Trial level independent factors

You can set [Block Values] and [Trial Values] in the UI and assign probabilities. These are assigned independently of any variables. So for example setting trial values: {'a','b'} trial probabilities: {0.3 0.7} would randomly assign either a or b in a 30:70 proability to each trial. Block factors have the same assignation, but applies over the blocks. So for example say we have a variable with two values (-10 or +10 degrees) and 5 repeat blocks. The trials are randomised. Separately we assign {'a','b'} to trials and {'x','y'} to get an experiment table of 5 blocks that may look like thislike this:

Log or Linear interpolation buttons

You can enter 3 values, start | end | steps, and press the log or the lin buttons to interpolate a log or linear range, for example 1 2 5 would get converted to 1 1.1892 1.4142 1.6818 2 when pressing the log button.

Equidistant Points button

This small tool allows you to specify the number of points, distance from center and additional rotation to calculate the correct X and Y positions. For example if you specified 8 points with 12° from the center the tool would calculate {[12 0], [8.49 8.49], [0 12], [-8.49 8.49], [-12 0], [-8.49 -8.49], [0 -12], [8.49 -8.49]} for the xyPosition values.