Python support for Brain Products GMBH hardware.
Here we have implemented support for the Remote Control Server application, which allows you to control recordings, send annotations etc. all from Python.
Provides a remote-control interface to BrainProducts Recorder.
Example usage:
import time
from psychopy import logging
from psychopy.hardware import brainproducts
logging.console.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
rcs = brainproducts.RemoteControlServer()
rcs.open('testExp',
workspace='C:/Vision/Workfiles/Standard Workspace.rwksp',
participant='S0021')
rcs.openRecorder()
time.sleep(2)
rcs.mode = 'monitor' # or 'impedance', or 'default'
rcs.startRecording()
time.sleep(2)
rcs.sendAnnotation('124', 'STIM')
time.sleep(1)
rcs.pauseRecording()
time.sleep(1)
rcs.resumeRecording()
time.sleep(1)
rcs.stopRecording()
time.sleep(1)
rcs.mode = 'default' # stops monitoring mode
To initialize the remote control recorder.
host (string, optional) – The IP address or hostname of the computer running RCS.
Defaults to 127.0.0.1.
port (int, optional) – The port on which RCS is listening for a connection on the
EEG computer. This should usually not need to be changed.
Defaults to 6700.
timeout (float, optional) – The timeout (in seconds) to wait for sending/receivign commands
testMode (bool, optional) – If True, the network connection to the RCS computer will
not actually be initialized.
Defaults to False.
Get/set the amplifier to use. Could be one of ” [‘actiCHamp’, ‘BrainAmp Family’,” ” ‘LiveAmp’, ‘QuickAmp USB’, ‘Simulated Amplifier’,” ” ‘V-Amp / FirstAmp’]
For Liveamp you should also provide the serial number, comma separated from the amplifier type.
Examples
rcs = RemoteControlServer() rcs.amplifier = ‘LiveAmp’, ‘LA-05490-0200’ # OR rcs.amplifier = ‘actiCHamp’
Closes the recording and deletes all associated workspace variables (e.g. when a participant has been completed)
Use this to reset any DC offset that might have accumulated if you aren’t using a high-pass filter
Get/set the name of the experiment or study (string)
The name will make up the first part of the EEG filename.
Example Usage:
rcs.expName = 'MyTestStudy'
Get/set the current mode.
Mode is a string that can be one of:
‘default’ or ‘def’ or None will exit special modes
‘impedance’ or ‘imp’ for impedance checking
‘monitoring’ or ‘mon’
‘test’ or ‘tes’ to go into test view
Opens a study/workspace on the RCS server
expName (str) – Name of the experiment. Will make up the first part of the EEG filename.
participant (str) – Participant identifier. Will make up the second part of the EEG filename.
workspace (str) – The full path to the workspace file (.rwksp), with forward slashes as path separators. e.g. “c:/myFolder/mySetup.rwksp”
An attribute to get/set whether the overwrite protection is turned on.
When checking the attribute the state of rcs.overwriteProtection a call will be made to the RCS and the report is based on the response. There is also a variable rcs._overwriteProtection that is simply the stored state from the most recent call and does not make any further communication with the RCS itself.
Usage example:
rcs.overwriteProtection = True # set it to be on
print(rcs.overwriteProtection) # print current state
Get/set the participant identifier (a string or numeric).
This identifier will make up the center part of the EEG filename.
Sends a message to be logged on the Recorder.
The timing of annotations may be imprecise and this should not be trusted as a method of sending sync triggers.
Annotations can contain any ASCII characters except for “;”
annotation (string) – The description text to be sent in the annotation.
annType (string) – The category of the annotation which are user-defined strings (e.g. stimulus, response)
usage:: (Example) – rcs.sendAnnotation(“face003”, “stimulus”)
A helper function to send raw messages (strings) to the RCS.
This is normally only used for debugging purposes and is not needed by most users.
message (string) – The string that will be sent
checkOutput (string (default='OK')) – If a value is provided then this will be checked for by this function. If no check is needed then set checkOutput=None
What is a reasonable timeout in seconds (initially set to 0.5)
For some systems (e.g. when the RCS is the same machine) you might want to set this to a lower value. For an unpredictable or slow network connection you might want to set this to a higher value.
Reports the version of the RCS application
Example usage:
print(rcs.version)
Wait for a message, optionally one that meets certain criteria
to have a particular value. Beware this will wait indefinitely, so only call if you are confident that the state will eventually arrive!
Get/set the path to the workspace file. An absolute path is required.
Example Usage:
rcs.workspace = 'C:/Vision/Worksfiles/testing.rwksp'