A custom interface for the joint operation of Med Associates and Tucker-Davis Technologies hardware in a rodent behavioral model

• Published in: Journal of neuroscience methods 2022-04, Vol.371, p.109528-109528, Article 109528
• Main Authors: Chandra, Nikhil S., Birenbaum, Nathan K., Green, Leonard, Ray, Wilson Z., MacEwan, Matthew R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Computers; Electrophysiological Phenomena; Macro-sieve electrode; Med associates; Neuroprosthetics; Prostheses and Implants; Rat behavior; Rats; Rodentia; Sciatic Nerve; Tucker-Davis technologies
• ISSN: 0165-0270; 1872-678X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109528

Rodent behavioral models with an electrophysiological component may require the joint operation of hardware from Med Associates, Inc. (St. Albans, VT) and Tucker-Davis Technologies (TDT; Alachua, FL). Although these manufacturers do produce supplemental hardware for interfacing with each other, investing in such hardware may be untenable for research groups with limited funds who wish to use equipment already in their possession. We designed a printed circuit board (PCB) in KiCad and had it fabricated by Advanced Circuits (Aurora, CO), with components sourced from Digi-Key (Thief River Falls, MN). The PCB provided 8 channels of bidirectional communication for the transmission of signals between Med Associates’ SG-716B SmartCtrl connection panel and TDT’s RZ5D base station. This setup enabled the coordinated operation of programs running separately on each set of hardware. The custom-built PCB facilitated the joint operation of Med Associates and TDT hardware in a go/no-go detection task involving rats with electrical implants in their sciatic nerves. Conventional methods for interfacing Med Associates and Tucker-Davis Technologies rely on the purchase of pre-built hardware whose costs can add up to thousands of dollars. The present method offers a viable alternative that is easily implemented and considerably less expensive (below $200). The present approach provides an inexpensive yet effective alternative to far more costly interfacing solutions offered by Med Associates and Tucker-Davis Technologies. •Rodent behavioral experiment with electrophysiological component.•Joint operation of Med-Associates, Inc. and Tucker-Davis Technologies hardware.•Custom-built step-down/step-up voltage converter interface.•Inexpensive alternative to OEM solutions.