ANY-maze Help > The ANY-maze reference > The Protocol page > The elements of a protocol > Inputs and outputs > Shockers > Shocker actions

Shocker actions

Introduction

As you may know, a procedure can include actions, some of which can affect a shocker - these are detailed below.

Actions

Activate the shocker

Switches the shocker on so that it administers a shock at the current intensity and for the current duration. The shocker automatically switches off (i.e. becomes inactive) at the end of the shock duration. If you activate a shocker which is already active, then the current shock will be abandoned and a new shock of the current intensity and duration will start. WARNING: This means that if you were to activate a shocker once every 2 seconds, for example, for a duration of 3s, then the shocker would effectively be on all the time.

Set shocker intensity

Set the intensity of the shocks that the shocker will administer to the value of the action's parameter. The parameter has units of mA (milliamps). If you set the shock intensity of a shocker which is active, the shock intensity will only change the next time the shocker becomes active; in other words, the shock being delivered will NOT change. If the specified shock intensity is greater than the shock intensity limit, the intensity will be set to the limit.

Set shocker duration

Sets the duration of the shocks that the shocker will administer to the value of the action's parameter. You can specify the duration using units of ms (milliseconds) or s (seconds); if you don't specify any units, seconds will be assumed. If you set the shock duration of a shocker which is active, the duration will only change the next time the shocker becomes active; in other words, the shock being delivered will NOT change. If the specified shock duration is greater than the shock duration limit, the duration will be set to the limit.

ANY-maze help topic T0228