Y-Maze TTL Interface
12 events · simple 6-byte · single BNC
Overview
The Y-Maze TTL interface encodes 12 spatial events across the three arms and central hub of the Y-Maze. Each arm has entry and end sensors, plus central zone sensors and trial boundary markers, providing complete trajectory data for spontaneous alternation and spatial recognition memory paradigms.
The simple 6-byte protocol sends each sensor event as a single ASCII letter, allowing straightforward alignment with electrophysiology, calcium imaging, or fiber photometry recordings. Arm-visit sequences can be reconstructed from the TTL event stream for correlation with hippocampal place cell activity.
TTL Event Map
simple protocol6-byte frame115200 baud10ms resolution
| Event | Code | Sensor | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center0 | A | Center entry | Animal enters the central hub |
| Center1 | B | Center mid | Animal at center of hub |
| ArmA0 | C | Arm A entry | Animal enters arm A |
| ArmA1 | D | Arm A end | Animal reaches end of arm A |
| ArmB0 | F | Arm B entry | Animal enters arm B |
| ArmB1 | G | Arm B end | Animal reaches end of arm B |
| ArmC0 | H | Arm C entry | Animal enters arm C |
| ArmC1 | I | Arm C end | Animal reaches end of arm C |
| FoodA | J | Food well A | Animal at food well in arm A |
| FoodB | K | Food well B | Animal at food well in arm B |
| TrialStart | P | Trial boundary | Marks the beginning of a trial |
| TrialComplete | Q | Trial boundary | Marks the end of the current trial |
Setup Instructions
- Connect the TTL module via USB and note the COM port.
- In ConductMaze Settings > TTL, select the COM port and set baud rate to 115200.
- Connect BNC output to your recording system digital input.
- Set pulse duration (default 1000ms).
- Run a test trial — manually guide the animal through each arm and confirm all 12 events register on your recording system.
Common Pitfalls
- ⚠In spontaneous alternation paradigms, animals often pause at arm entries before committing. The entry sensor may trigger before the animal fully enters the arm — consider using the end sensor as the definitive arm-visit marker.
- ⚠Letter code E is skipped (ArmA1=D, ArmB0=F) to maintain consistency with the T-Maze letter mapping convention.
Methods Text (Copy-Paste)
Y-Maze spatial events were synchronized with neural recordings using the ConductMaze TTL module (ConductScience, Skokie, IL). Twelve events (3 arm pairs, center zone, food wells, and trial boundaries) were encoded as 6-byte serial frames at 115,200 baud with 10ms resolution and delivered via BNC.
Suggested text for the Methods section of your manuscript.
Compatible Products
ME-OC-TTL
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