PsyScope
Encyclopedia
PsyScope is a graphical user interface
(GUI) software program that allows researchers to design and run psychological experiments. It runs on Apple Macintosh
computers and was originally designed for use with the Mac OS 9
platform. PsyScope was originally developed by an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University
, including Jonathan Cohen, Matthew Flatt
, Brian MacWhinney
, and Jefferson Provost. It has been ported to Mac OS X
by a group of researchers and programmers coordinated by researchers at SISSA
, Italy and the Pompeu Fabra University
, Spain. It is still under active development. The program and its code are open source and freely available (see external link). It currently runs under Mac OS X Snow Leopard. With respect to its Mac OS 9
incarnation, PsyScope X has a much more complete control of movies and sounds, can interact with the underlying Unix
environment, and allows researchers to design programs that use several external devices, such as response devices to record participants' responses, or Evoked potential
and eye tracking recording devices.
It is difficult to estimate exactly how many researchers use the program. Currently, no support exist for the Mac OS 9
version. However, many researchers in several well respected universities around the world use PsyScope X to generate and run psychology and neuropsychology experiments. Users of PsyScope X can share experiments, tips, and ideas via message boards dedicated to the software (see external link).
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
(GUI) software program that allows researchers to design and run psychological experiments. It runs on Apple Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
computers and was originally designed for use with the Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apple's Mac OS before the launch of Mac OS X. Introduced on October 23, 1999, Apple positioned it as "The Best Internet Operating System Ever," highlighting Sherlock 2's Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as...
platform. PsyScope was originally developed by an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
, including Jonathan Cohen, Matthew Flatt
Matthew Flatt
Matthew Flatt is a computer scientist, currently teaching at the University of Utah . He is also a member of the PLT group and, as such, responsible for the creation and maintenance of Racket....
, Brian MacWhinney
Brian MacWhinney
Brian James MacWhinney is a Professor of Psychology and Modern Languages at Carnegie Mellon University. He specializes in first and second language acquisition, psycholinguistics, and the neurological bases of language, and he has written and edited several books and over 100 peer-reviewed...
, and Jefferson Provost. It has been ported to Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
by a group of researchers and programmers coordinated by researchers at SISSA
Sissa
Sissa is a comune in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 100 km northwest of Bologna and about 20 km northwest of Parma....
, Italy and the Pompeu Fabra University
Pompeu Fabra University
Pompeu Fabra University is a university in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It is widely considered to be one of the best universities in Spain and in Europe, and was ranked 1st in scientific productivity in Spain in 2009. Founded in 1990, it is named after the Catalan philologist Pompeu Fabra...
, Spain. It is still under active development. The program and its code are open source and freely available (see external link). It currently runs under Mac OS X Snow Leopard. With respect to its Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apple's Mac OS before the launch of Mac OS X. Introduced on October 23, 1999, Apple positioned it as "The Best Internet Operating System Ever," highlighting Sherlock 2's Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as...
incarnation, PsyScope X has a much more complete control of movies and sounds, can interact with the underlying Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
environment, and allows researchers to design programs that use several external devices, such as response devices to record participants' responses, or Evoked potential
Evoked potential
An evoked potential is an electrical potential recorded from the nervous system of a human or other animal following presentation of a stimulus, as distinct from spontaneous potentials as detected by electroencephalography or electromyography .Evoked potential amplitudes tend to be low, ranging...
and eye tracking recording devices.
It is difficult to estimate exactly how many researchers use the program. Currently, no support exist for the Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apple's Mac OS before the launch of Mac OS X. Introduced on October 23, 1999, Apple positioned it as "The Best Internet Operating System Ever," highlighting Sherlock 2's Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as...
version. However, many researchers in several well respected universities around the world use PsyScope X to generate and run psychology and neuropsychology experiments. Users of PsyScope X can share experiments, tips, and ideas via message boards dedicated to the software (see external link).