User manual

161
CHAPTER 8 – Protocol Builder – Sequential Scripting
8.1 Circular Scripting to Sequential Scripting
In all the previous Protocol Builder examples in Chapter 7, the code in the MainProtocol/EndProtocol
construct a circular script consisting of a Continuous Loop construct, eg:
MainProtocol
 Loop [99999] ‘ Continuous loop because of the 99999 loop number
………… ‘ Any events in the Continuous Loop
EndLoop
EndProtocol
In circular scripting, a repeating P0sweep or alternating repetitive P0sweep/P1sweep event was used to
provide baseline stimulation and regular stimulation throughout the experiment and in the washout. Then
intermittent stimulation was provided every once in awhile by evoking it by clicking on ‘Single PXsweep’
or ‘Repeat PXsweep’ Run Buttons, or by producing stimulation by clicking on the large check boxes of
Run lines, Run/ElseRun constructs, Loop and/or AvgLoop lines
In contrast, sequential scripts follow a linear, not circular, order of events. This is what experiments really
are - a linear order of events. Sequential scripts usually start with a repeating P0sweep or alternating
repetitive P0sweep/P1sweep events to provide baseline stimulation, and then intermittent stimulation
was provided every once in awhile by evoking it by clicking on ‘Single PXsweep’ or ‘Repeat PXsweep’
Run Buttons, or by producing stimulation by clicking on the large check boxes of Run lines, Run/ElseRun
constructs, Loop and/or AvgLoop lines
In sequential scripting, scripts follow a linear, not circular, order of events, which is what experiments
really are, a linear order of events. Usage of sequential scripting coupled with automated perfusion
control allows the Automated Experiments discussed in Chapter 10.
To get a better idea of how circular scripting relates to sequential scripting, look at Fig. 8.1.1. Fig. 8.1.1
shows three different protocols that can produce a simple LTP experiment: 1) A baseline of repetitive
single S0 pulses (one S0 pulse in a P0sweep), 2) the first LTP induction stimulation by a train of S0
pulses in a T0sweep, 3) more repetitive S0 pulses, 4) a second LTP induction stimulation by delivering
the train of S0 pulses in the T0sweep, and 5) ending with the final repetitive S0 pulses.
For researchers that use WinLTP in the Basic Mode to do a basic LTP experiment, the Continuous
[99999] Loop contains one P0sweep (with one S0 pulse) that is output every 2 seconds in this example.
The two single S0 trains for LTP induction are output by clicking the ‘Single T0’ sweep button twice at the
appropriate times (Fig. 8.1.1A). The researcher has to be present each time to click the ‘Single T0’
sweep button.