Computer programming for generating visual stimuli

• Published in: Behavior research methods Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 38 - 45
• Main Authors: Bukhari, Farhan, Kurylo, Daniel D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.02.2008; Psychonomic Society, Inc
• Subjects: Behavior; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Color; Computer Graphics; Computer Terminals; Data collection; Graphics boards; Personal computers; Photic Stimulation - methods; Printed circuit boards; Programming Languages; Psychology; Software; Windows operating system; Video Card; Assembly Language; Scalar Vector Graphic; Video Adapter; Vision Research
• ISSN: 1554-351X; 1554-3528
• DOI: 10.3758/BRM.40.1.38

Critical to vision research is the generation of visual displays with precise control over stimulus metrics. Generating stimuli often requires adapting commercial software or developing specialized software for specific research applications. In order to facilitate this process, we give here an overview that allows nonexpert users to generate and customize stimuli for vision research. We first give a review of relevant hardware and software considerations, to allow the selection of display hardware, operating system, programming language, and graphics packages most appropriate for specific research applications. We then describe the framework of a generic computer program that can be adapted for use with a broad range of experimental applications. Stimuli are generated in the context of trial events, allowing the display of text messages, the monitoring of subject responses and reaction times, and the inclusion of contingency algorithms. This approach allows direct control and management of computer-generated visual stimuli while utilizing the full capabilities of modern hardware and software systems. The flowchart and source code for the stimulus-generating program may be downloaded from www.psychonomic.org/archive.