Xavier

Installation

System Requirements

• Windows XP or newer

Download Instructions

1. Download and install the USB-Serial Windows Driver Installer

2. Download and unzip Xavier Deployment Folder

3. Open up Xavier.exe

4. Setup a default directory that data will be saved to.

Settings

Access Xavier Settings by navigating to File->Settings.. or by pressing Ctrl + ,

Note

Settings cannot be changed in the middle of a session

Edit Default Save Directory

1. Click Change Directory to setup a new save location.

2. Navigate to an existing folder or create a new folder for future data.

3. Finally, click Select Folder. The “Current Directory” will reflect updated save path

Edit Session Setup Lists

Adding Items

Type new items into the textboxes and click Add Item (or press Enter)

Removing Items

Select the item from list you want to remove and click Remove Selected

Labeling COM Ports

When multiple usb devices are connected to the computer, it can be hard to keep track of which COM Port belongs to which device. To minimize confusion when connecting to serial ports, Xavier allows you to label COM Ports.

1. Double-click the labeled COM Port from the list that you want to edit. A label editing dialog will appear.

2. Type the new label into the textbox and click Change Label.

Running an Experiment

Session Setup

1. Fill out experimental setup information.

Note

The rig and rat lists can be edited

2. Select a Base Station Serial Port.

Note

The COM port drowdown list can be labeled

3. Click Connect to Base Station.

4. A startup sequence dialog box will appear. Xavier will try to establish a connection between Base Station and Cerebro. Once connected, Xavier will make sure that the laser diode power settings on Cerebro match laser diode powers for the rat/implant that was selected in step 1. If there are red X’s, make sure the correct Serial Port was selected, make sure Cerebro has been turned on, and then click Retry.

5. If everything on the list has green checkmarks, click Start Session to begin the session.

Edit Waveform Parameters

Five waveform parameters (Start Delay, On Time, Off Time, Train Duration, Ramp Down) can be wirelessly changed throughout the session. The user can make changes using either a Single Shot mode with an optional ramp down or Pulse Train mode. Non-applicable parameters are automatically set to zero depending on the options selected.

1. Check the Cerebro Status to determine whether the waveform parameters are set as you wish.

2. If you would like to modify the parameters, select “Single Shot” or “Pulse Train”, then modify the parameters in the “Waveform Parameters” section.

3. Click Send New Waveform Parameters.

Ending a Session and Saving Data

1. When you are ready to end the session click Save Session.