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ArduiPod Box: a low-cost and open-source Skinner box using an iPod Touch and an Arduino microcontroller
1Psychology Department, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, 11550, USA, oskar.pineno@hofstra.edu.
Behavior Research Methods
|July 2, 2013
Summary
The ArduiPod Box, an affordable open-source device, offers a low-cost alternative for animal behavior research. This simple operant conditioning system effectively studies animal learning in educational settings.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Comparative Psychology
- Educational Technology
Background:
- Standard operant conditioning chambers (Skinner boxes) are expensive, limiting accessibility for educational institutions.
- There is a need for cost-effective tools to facilitate animal behavior research and learning in academic settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce the ArduiPod Box, an open-source, low-cost operant conditioning device.
- To demonstrate the ArduiPod Box's utility as an alternative to traditional Skinner boxes for research and education.
Main Methods:
- The ArduiPod Box was constructed using an iPod Touch and an Arduino microcontroller.
- A pilot experiment was conducted to assess the device's effectiveness in studying animal behavior.
Main Results:
- The ArduiPod Box was successfully developed as an open-source, affordable alternative.
- Pilot study results indicate the device is effective for studying animal learning and behavior, despite its simplicity.
Conclusions:
- The ArduiPod Box presents a viable, budget-friendly solution for equipping animal laboratories in educational institutions.
- This innovative device can support fundamental research in animal learning and behavior.
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