The SETAR and Its Uses for Recording Physiological and Behavioral Data

Abstract

The SETAR (Serial Event Timer and Recorder) is an electronic digital elapsed-time recorder with punched paper tape output. It is a multichannel machine and will time and record the occurrence of successive events within a single channel or between different channels. An event is anything which will make or break one or more of the input circuits. The SETAR can directly record behavioral variables, such as reaction times and intertrial intervals and any physiological variables available as time measures, such as heart rate recorded from successive R-R intervals. The present machine will record in looths of a second and take readings up to ten times per second. Due to internal buffer storage three readings may be made at rates up to 100 per second. Events separated by less than 100th of a second are recorded as though they were simultaneous. The principles of operation of the machine and its methods of use in a psychophysiological laboratory are described. Future developments of higher speed recording and extended uses are discussed.