SuperLab - Cortech Solutions, Inc.

The Easiest Way to Build an Experiment, Without a Doubt

Superlab 4.0 is the stimulus presentation software for Mac OS X (10.3.9 or later) and Windows XP/2000. In development for almost five years, the new SuperLab 4.0 introduces a host of new features, including:

Playing movies
Stimulus lists
Support for JPEG, GIF, PNG, and TIFF files
Built-in support for RSVP and self-paced reading
Improved support for fMRI and EEG/ERP
Trial variables
Conditional banching (if/then/else)
Multiple input devices in the same experiment

The new version 4.0 is a 100% rewrite of SuperLab and was built from the ground up as a Unicode application that handles Japanese, Chinese, and other international fonts just as easily as it handles English fonts. SuperLab 4.0 remains the easiest way to build an experiment while eliminating nearly all the limitations found in earlier versions.

Upgrade Information: Upgrade to version 4 is free for some users of previous versions. If you are not eligible for a free upgrade, the cost of upgrading is 50% of the published prices regardless of whether its a single license or multiple licenses.

Features & Advantages of New Superlab 4.0:

Feature	Advantages
Stimuli Lists	Example: if you need to present 150 words or picture files, you can now create a stimulus list and then create a single event that uses that list, rather then create and edit 150 separate events.
Movies	QuickTime movies on the Mac, AVI and MPG movies in Windows Note: At this point, there is no guarantee that SuperLab 4.0 will achieve decent timing while a movie is playing.
Trial Variables	This feature allows you to vary several aspects of an experiment, e.g. vary the duration of a time limit for an event, or present a picture at one of 4 different positions picked at random or in order (instead of having to create 4 separate events).
Event Randomization	Previous versions allowed the randomizing of trials within an event. You can now randomize events within a trial as well.
String Input	Subjects can now type entire sentences instead of single keys
RSVP Support	Built-in support for Rapid Serial Visual Presentation paradigm
Self-Paced Reading Support	Built-in support for self-paced reading
Support for Key Release	A response can now be the release of a key rather than the pressing of a key
Support for Go/No-Go Experiments	A correct response can now be “None, the participant must not respond”
Support for Between Subject Designs	The new Participant Groups feature makes it easier to handle between subject designs.
Conditional Branching	You can now alter the path of an experiment
fMRI Support	Trials can now be presented at precise intervals
ERP/EEG Support	An experiment can now be paused instead of canceled, and special “events” can be triggered when the experiment starts, pauses, resumes, or ends. For example, this makes it possible to start and stop the recording of ERP data automatically.
Unicode Support	It is now as easy to develop experiments in Asian and other international languages as it is to do so in English

Enhancements to Existing Features:

Feature	Advantages
Support for JPEG Files	SuperLab also supports GIF, PNG, and TIFF file formats
Multiple Lines of Text	You are no longer limited to displaying a single line.
Multiple Input Devices	You can now use a response pad, keyboard, and SV-1 voice key all in the same experiment
Improved Standard Mouse Input	You no longer have to specify X,Y position when creating a on-screen response — simply tell SuperLab to use the stimulus’ position. Position of mouse click is now also being saved.
Multiple Correct Responses	Example: you can now designate “Button 1” and “Button 2” as both being the correct keys.
Improved Feedbacks	Adding feedback to an event is much easier than it was in the previous versions. You can now also delay the feedback until an event’s time limit is up.
Richer Data Files	SuperLab can now save more information in the data file, e.g. what the correct response is supposed to be.
Dynamic Code Values	Code values can now be attached to an event or stimulus list items (in addition to trials). More importantly, you can now change code values while an experiment is running, e.g. to mark a stimulus as having been presented.