Upload Med-PC output files and get clean data, publication-ready figures, and AI-powered session QA — all in your browser.
Try it out
Load example operant session data to see the full workflow
Drag & drop Med-PC output files
or click to browse — .txt files, one or more
When to use
Do not use for
Array A in one lab’s program might be active lever presses while another lab uses Array C. Always verify array mappings against your .MPC source code before interpreting parsed output. The tool auto-detects common schedules from the MSN field, but custom protocols require manual mapping.
Progressive ratio breakpoint can be defined as the last completed ratio, the last ratio initiated, or based on a time-out criterion (e.g., 5 minutes without a response). Different criteria yield different breakpoints from the same session. Document your criterion in your methods section.
A cumulative response curve that resets mid-session or shows backward steps indicates a file parsing error or corrupted data. The slope of the cumulative record at any point reflects the local response rate — steeper slopes mean faster responding.
Comparing response rates across sessions of different lengths can be misleading. A 30-minute FR session and a 60-minute FR session will show different total response counts but may have identical rates. Always normalize by session duration or use time-bin analyses.
Med-PC output files are typically ASCII/ANSI encoded. If your files were opened and re-saved in Excel or a text editor that changed the encoding to UTF-8 with BOM, the parser may fail on header detection. Re-export from Med-PC or remove the BOM marker.
Session Metadata
Subject, group, box, date, duration, MSN program name
Event Arrays
Active/inactive responses, reinforcers, head entries, latencies
Summary Statistics
Response rate, breakpoint, accuracy, omissions, d-prime
Med Associates bundles a "MED-PC to Excel" utility with their software. It transfers raw data into Excel, but requires manual macro setup for each protocol, processes one file at a time, and provides no QA or visualization. This tool parses files instantly in your browser, auto-detects your schedule, generates publication-ready figures, computes summary statistics, and optionally runs AI-powered session QA — all in one step, for an entire batch of sessions.
| Feature | MED-PC to Excel | Operant Session Analyzer |
|---|---|---|
| Parsing | Requires Excel macros, manual setup per protocol | Instant browser-based, auto-detects schedule |
| QA | Manual — check each session by eye | AI flags anomalies, equipment issues, outliers |
| Visualization | Copy into GraphPad/Prism manually | Publication-ready figures generated instantly |
| Batch processing | One file at a time | Upload entire experiment at once |
| Export formats | Excel only | CSV (wide/long), PNG, SVG, methods text |
| Schedule support | Generic | Schedule-aware analysis (FR, PR, 5-CSRTT, etc.) |
| Cost | Bundled with Med-PC license | Free |
| Privacy | Desktop software | Client-side — data never leaves your browser |
Parser supports Med-PC .txt, Coulbourn .csv, and Lafayette .csv formats. Event timestamps are extracted and reconstructed into behavioral time series. Schedule detection uses MSN field pattern matching for FR, PR, and 5-CSRTT presets. AI QA powered by Claude API for session anomaly detection — sends only parsed summary statistics, not raw files.
Last validated 2026-03-10. Calculations are designed for planning and documentation support; verify procurement decisions against manufacturer specifications or institutional SOPs.
ConductScience Operant Session Analyzer (v1.0). ConductScience, Inc. 2026. Available at: https://conductscience.com/tools/operant-session-analyzer
Med-PC is a trademark of Med Associates Inc. This tool is independent and parses exported text files. ConductScience is not affiliated with Med Associates Inc.
Med-PC output files are plain text with two sections: a header block and one or more lettered data arrays. The header contains session metadata — subject ID, experiment name, group, box number, start/end times, and the MSN (program name). Below the header, arrays labeled A through Z hold numeric data whose meaning depends entirely on the Med-PC program that generated them. In a typical self-administration program, Array A might hold active lever press timestamps, Array B inactive presses, and Array C reinforcer deliveries — but another lab's program might use completely different mappings. This is why Med-PC data requires protocol-specific parsing. The tool auto-detects common schedule types from the MSN field and applies the appropriate array mapping, or you can configure it manually.
Med Associates bundles a "MED-PC to Excel" utility with their software. It transfers raw data into Excel, but requires manual macro setup for each protocol, processes one file at a time, and provides no QA or visualization. This tool parses files instantly in your browser, auto-detects your schedule, generates publication-ready figures, computes summary statistics, and optionally runs AI-powered session QA — all in one step, for an entire batch of sessions.
You shouldn't need a rescue tool for your data. ConductScience operant systems export clean, structured data natively — ready for analysis without parsing. ConductMaze provides automated protocol management with built-in session QA at the hardware level. Direct CSV/JSON export means no proprietary formats, no array decoding, and no guessing which letter maps to which variable.
Summarize parsed 5-CSRTT sessions with accuracy, omissions, premature responses, and perseveratives
Browse EquipmentMed Associates, Coulbourn, and Lafayette operant conditioning systems
Browse EquipmentMorris water maze, Barnes maze, and elevated plus maze
Browse EquipmentBrowse every rodent behavior calculator, analyzer, and scorer organized by anxiety, depression, motor, memory, social, and pain paradigms.
Browse