Assembling the Setup¶
Preperation¶
In order to make sure, there is no interruption while you assemble the hardware we advise you to make sure you do all preparations before you start to assemble:
Obtain the needed hardware
Install the soundcard and NIDAQ-Card drivers as described in the corresponding user manual
After installing the soundcard change its settings to 4 input and 4 output channels
Build the sensor platform
Build at least one tube for the animals
Solder the speaker cables to a BNC connector (male)
Hardware¶
Place Hardware¶
Place the sensor platform in the soundproof chamber
Place the speaker(s) in front of the sensor platform without them blocking each other and both being horizontally centered in front of the tube. Place the startle-stimulus-speaker close to the sensor platform, as it needs to produce a sound pressure level of 115 dB SPL which it will only manage if the distance is small. (max about 5 cm)
Connect the amplifiers
Connect the power-supply for the sensor platform with 3V DC
Connect Hardware¶
The diagram shows how the different components are connected.
NiDAQ-Card measures the data of the soundcard, therefore needs a BNC Tee connector on the plugs ai4 an ai5
As we will connect the audio channels using BNC-cabels plug cinch-BNC(male) connectors into the channels 1,3,4 of the soundcard
Connect everything as stated by the following table
SC: soundcard SP: sensor platform BB: breakoutbox NI: NiDAQ-Card AP: amplifier pre-stimulus AS: amplifier startle-stimulus
From |
To |
Cable |
NI |
BB |
SHC 68-68 |
SP-X |
BB-ai0 |
BNC |
SP-Y |
BB-ai1 |
BNC |
SP-Z |
BB-ai2 |
BNC |
SC-1 |
BB-ai3 |
BNC |
SC-3 |
BB-ai4 |
BNC |
SC-4 |
BB-ai5 |
BNC |
BB-ai4 |
AP-in |
BNC |
BB-ai5 |
AS-in |
BNC |
AP-out |
pre-stimulus speaker |
BNC |
AS-out |
startle-stimulus speaker |
BNC |
power-supply |
SP power in |
solder |