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A generic device - anything can be captured as a device with the device capture box, but they are primarily intended for items from the lab and logic packages.
Sequential presentation of a predefined set of vectors.
A multi-channel spike generator, producing either regular or independent poisson distributed spike trains defined by their average frequency.
A device which adjusts an applied voltage so as to achieve an approximately constant current output. The voltage sensor must be explicitly connected to the voltage output of the object being controlled so as to compute the necessary driving potential. Note that this is slightly different from a standard current clamp used in electrophysiology where the pipette electrode acts as both current source and voltage sensor. The clamp can be attached with an _CMLINK(link, InsertionArrow, insertion arrow) to, for example, the membrane of an IntegratorCompartment.
A signal generator producing continuous output on a number of channels. There are several different operating modes, each with its own options. For the sinusoid and sawtooth options, only the frequency and range of the output signal need be specified. Optionally, by setting the _TT(applyPhaseShifts) flag, the vector specified by the _TT(fixedVector) selector will be used to set initial phases of the separate channels. In the _TT(profile) mode, the specified _CMLINK(standard, Profile, profile) is repeated at the chosen frequency on all channels. In _TT(noise) mode, the parameters specified by the _CMLINK(standard, NoiseModel, noise model) are used to generate as many different time series as there are channels.
A special case of a _CMLINK(assembly, CaptureBox, capture box) for capturing lab items.
A recorder which associates spike times and channels with a continuous vector input. The original idea of this component is to record where an animat is when particular cells fire, but it may be useful in other contexts. The vector input is sampled at the given _TT(sampleInterval) irrespective of any spike input. This gives a record of the path taken by an animat in its environment. Whenever a spike arrives, an additional record is taken of the current vector and the index of the spike. These can be displayed in the _CMLINK(lab, SpikePositionRecorderEditor, spike display), which can be opened with the _TT(show) button if necessary. The color table and _TT(pointSize) are used for drawing spikes of different index. Disjoint _CMLINK(standard, ColorTable, color tables) where each color is widely different from its neighbors are most useful. The _TT(clear history) button erases all recorded data. This can be useful to visualize place fields after a period of exploration. If using the _CMLINK(logic, FeatureDiscretizer, feature discretizer) for example, one location may change field during exploration. Clearing the history and continuing to record gives a clearer idea of the final set of fields.
For now, please consult the _CMLINK(., quicktour, workbench overview) and of _CMLINK(examples, index, examples) to see how to use the workbench.
Graphical interface for the _CMLINK(lab, SpikePositionRecorder, spike position recorder) q.v.
A recorder for vectors and/or discrete events. The vector input is read every _TT(sampleInterval) ms. Discrete events are recorded when they arrive. Vectors can be displayed as a series of lines - one line for each element of the input as a function of time, or as a greyscale plot in the _CMLINK(standard, DisplayList, display) object. Spikes, if collected are shown as vertical bars where the y coordinate indicates the channel on which the spike arrived. The _TT(recordFromStart) option, which defaults to true, can be set to false to switch the recorder off. This may improve performance in long calculations, and can also be used in conjunction with the two ports on the top of the device. If the recorder is off and a spike arrives on the port labelled start recording then it is switched to on. If it is on and a spike arrives on the stop recording port then it is switched off. Other combinations have no effect. One way this can be used to pick out intervals in a signal is to pipe the output of an event sequence generator through a spike splitter and connect the first channel to the on port and the second to the off port. Then, whne the sequence contains a spike of index 0 the recorder will be started, and when it has a spike of index 1, the recorder will stop. Another potential use is in triggered recording, where some other circuitry generates the on signal to start the recording. For fixed interval recordings, the on signal can also be routed through a spike delay unit to provide the off signal. Note that occasionally greyscale plots look very dull. This is typically because the range of the selected color table in the display does not match the range of the input data. There are usually default _CMLINK(standard, ColorTable, color tables) provided for data defined on [ 0,1 ] and for membrane potentials measured in mV, but others can easily be constructed.
A multi-channel spike generator, producing either regular or independent poisson distributed spike trains defined by their average frequency.
A button for generating spikes while a model is running. When a model is compiled into executable units, SpikeButtons are given access to their executable counterparts so that pressing them generates a spike which affects the running model. Note that they can only be pressed when the workbench is in _TT(run mode). Because they gain access to the executable code, SpikeButtons can only be used at the top level of the workbench and cannot be incorporated in compound units. Other components allowing access to a running model include the _CMLINK(lab, VectorSwitch, vector switch) and _CMLINK(world, InsertionSwitch, insertion switch).
a socket for a device.
A recorder which registers the times of incoming spikes and can export them as a spike trin for file storage (by connecting the output port to an OutputFile).
The Workbench is the standard mdeling environment of Catacomb 2. In previous versions, you would ask for a new object and then get a new window suitable for modifying it. Now, almost everything is created on the workbench. Collections of components can then be assigned to compound objects using the _CMLINK(assembly, CaptureBox, CaptureBoxes). The _CMLINK(lab, WorkbenchEditor, WorkbenchEditor) summarises the behaviour of the standard user interface. More introductory material can be found in the _CMLINK(., quicktour, overview) and there are a number of _CMLINK(examples, index, examples) showing how it can be used in a range of different contexts.
A switch for changing vector connections. Like the _CMLINK(lab, SpikeButton, spike button) the vector switch can be operated while a model is running to switch between its different inputs. The vector it provides on the output port is one of those available on its input ports according to the position of the switch. It also has a spike input port at the top which can be used to operate it programatically: sending a spike with index 0 switches it to the first vector; index 1 switches it to the second etc.
A container for a _CMLINK(chemistry, Solution, solution).
A recorder which associates spike times and channels with a continuous vector input. This is similar to the _CMLINK(lab, SpikePositionRecorder, position recorder) except that it does not regularly sample the vector input: records are only kept when spikes arrive. Each record includes the spike time, channel, and the value of the vector input at the arrival time.