AUTOMATIZED DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING BY A MICROCOMPUTER IN A NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY LABORATORY

Abstract

In a typical research laboratory, space, time, confidence, as well as precision in data acquisition and processing are important factors in working. With the advent of microprocessors and in consequence of inexpensive microcomputers, such advantages are now available to almost anyone, yielding to an improvement in the research activity. This chapter presents a description of computer system. The system consists of a Sol terminal computer manufactured by Processor Technology. The development of software includes some programs for analysis in time domain of analog signals after its digital conversion, auto-correlation, cross-correlation, fast Fourier transform, and many special purpose programs for the laboratory. The chapter describes the recording and processing system. The biological signals from the animal or tissue are recorded with a polygraph and stored in an FM tape recorder. Both signals are monitored with an oscilloscope. From the polygraph or from the tape recorder, the signals input into the computer through the analog to digital converter interface. The microcomputer by means of a program creates files, opens files, and stores data in formats. Thereafter, analog signals are stored in diskettes in digital form. Recalling the files from the disk is easy to process digital data for statistical analysis or graphical display.