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Double Saccades

Posted by monkey_mind 
Double Saccades
February 18, 2021 05:07PM
Hi all,

I have a task where monkeys must maintain central fixation before being presented with four targets simultaneously using the MultiTarget adapter.

I want to ensure that monkeys don't make a double saccade to an off-target location before they select a target, but I also do not want to punish them for pausing briefly before making a saccade by setting WaitTime too low.

Does anyone have a nice way to set this up?

Thank you!
Re: Double Saccades
February 20, 2021 02:37AM
When four targets are presented, set a fixation window around the center where the subject is looking. Once the fixation is broken (i.e., a saccade is initiated), then set multiple windows around the targets. Since you now know that the saccade is already initiated, you can set a very short WaitTime, like 50 msec, that is long enough for one saccade but not for double saccades.
Re: Double Saccades
March 09, 2021 06:00PM
Thank you, Jaewon!

I was able to implement this solution by writing an additional scene that ends when fixation is broken, however, now I am often getting some skipped frames between these two scenes as they occur in quick succession. Is there any way I can avoid this?
Re: Double Saccades
March 11, 2021 01:31AM
Are you sure that the skipped frames occur between the scenes? See if you created all the scenes before running any of them. If the second scene is created after the first one is presented, an initialization delay is inevitable.
https://monkeylogic.nimh.nih.gov/docs_CreatingTask.html#HowToCreateAdapterChains

You can try combining them in one scene with Sequential.
https://monkeylogic.nimh.nih.gov/docs_RuntimeFunctions.html#Sequential

Or get a faster computer.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.