# Work with external data

External data types

You can import external data, like for example heart rate, EEG, GSR or accelerometer data into EthoVision XT and synchronize these data with the tracks. EthoVision XT can import data in ASCII format with a constant sample rate or a time stamp column in the file.

note It is also possible to import European Data Format (EDF) Files, or BioSemi Data Format (BDF) files, which is the 24 bit version of EDF, into EthoVision XT. Import of EDF+ or BDF+ files, which may contain annotations, is not supported.

Procedure

Working with external data in EthoVision XT involves some basic steps:

1.When possible, connect the EthoVision XT computer to one of the input channels of the external DAQ system. This allows you to synchronize EthoVision XT and the external data automatically. Contact Noldus for a cable that serves this function. See Connect EthoVision XT to the DAQ system

2. Enable DAQ co-acquisition in EthoVision XT.

3.Acquire the trials, while the DAQ system acquires its own data.

See Acquire a trial live for the general procedure.

4.After data acquisition, import the external data file(s) and assign them to a Trial, Arena, or Subject.

See Import a complete external data file at once

Tracking data and external data are automatically synchronized in case you used DAQ co-acquisition. If not, you can use manual synchronization.

5.Visualize external data together with video and acquired tracks.

Notes

▪The external data are saved on the computer dedicated to the DAQ device, not on the EthoVision XT computer.

▪If you want to visualize tracks according to the values of a dependent variable, make sure that you specify that dependent variable in the active Analysis profile. To edit a profile, click it in the Experiment Explorer and make the necessary changes.