Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory

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Docs: Goldmine Gems

Updated on October 23, 2024

Goldmine Gems Protocol

Requirements

  • Software: Unity
  • Task Version (Goldmine Gems): cnl/Desktop/GOLDMINE2/Goldmine 2.0.3 (CNL Mac 5 only)
  • Task Version (original Goldmine): cnl/Desktop/GOLDMINE2/Goldmine 1.0.2 
  • Equipment:
  • CNL Mac 5
  • Daniel TTL box
  • External keyboard
  • Bluetooth mouse
  • Neuralynx or Blackrock recording system

Description

Participants will search and dig for gems in a virtual goldmine maze. Includes a tutorial (practice) and full task (36 rounds). 

Duration: ~70 min

Brain Regions of Interest: HPC, EC (priority is single unit data)

Setup

1) Connect external keyboard

2) Connect bluetooth mouse

3) Connect one end of DAQ cable to NLX TTL box and laptop

4) Connect one end of BNC cable to Danieal TTL sync input and the other end to NLX TTL box analog input 8 (see next page)

5) Check Power LED on Daniel TTL box is ON (green) (laptop powers TTL box)

Procedure

1) Launch Goldmine 2.0.3

2) Verify TTL sync pulses are being sent (they will begin sending once program starts)

  • TTLs should send  every 1 s (staggered pulses, see next page)

3) Enter parameters: patient ID, S Maze 2

4) Start tutorial

5) Review instructions with patient

6) Remind patient during tutorial: 

“There will be a penalty if you don’t make it back to the base within 30 sec. Please try to do your best, remain as still as possible during the task, and refrain from moving your head and talking, if possible. There will be intermittent breaks after rounds 12 and 24 if you need to rest.” 

7) End tutorial

8) Start recording

9) Start task

10) For the first few trials:

  • Remind patient: “Now you’re going to look for gold/ dig up the gems” to help them get the rhythm. The instructions are on the top left of the screen.
  • Before search: “Get ready to look for the gems”
  • Before digging: “Envision the path from the base back to the gems you are going to dig up. For example, imagine the route as if you were going to a restaurant and go through the streets you would take ”
  • Remind patient: “This trial has a time penalty if you are not back in the base in 30 sec.”

11) For trials with multiple gems:

  • Remind patient: “This time there will be x gems to dig up

12) Exit the task before disconnecting patient

13) Behavioral data: cnl/Desktop/GOLDMINE2/data/Goldmine/SubjectID/session_x/events.jsonl

Controls:

  • Left/right/up/down arrow keys: move left/right/forward/backward
  • Mouse pad: rotate view 
  • ‘P’ key: pause task
  • only pause after digging round and in the mine once time has elapsed