What is happening here?

Hi there! I am modifying a working script and I keep getting an error. By now I do not know what else to do (it is true that I don't know a lot about programming). Both scripts are really similar. They are made to analyze data from a behavioral computerized experiment. The script is telling matlab to extract the number of times that some pattern of stimuli happen (for example in the first script, tell me how many times an auditory stimuli type A -15- is followed by a visual stimuli type A -51- and this one is then followed by a correct response -111 or 112-, and the time between the visual stimuli and its response is as maximum 2000 ms. The script also asks (two lines below the previous) for the time between the correct response and the visual stimuli.

So, this example is in script 1, that is fully functional. But now I need to look for much more complex patterns of stimuli (see script 2). For example, the first condition I ask for says that I want to look for conditions where there is a visual stimuli type A or B or C or D or E or F -41,42,43,44,45,46- followed by no response and then followed by another visual stimuli of the same type that is followed by a correct response (111 or 112). The thing is that half of the patterns are extracted perfectly (the first 4 statements work perfectly and the data I need is showed correctly. But when it arrives to the fifth (those that have the comments starting with %cond3Cs:, %cond4Cs:, %cond5Cs:, and, %cond5Cs:), it says that "Index exceeds array bounds.".

So, here is Script 1 (fully working):

for x=1;
sujeto=[1007]; %poner los codigos de sujeto entre corchetes
path='C:\Users\so_sana\Documents\MATLAB\Ficheros_excel\'; %poner la ruta de la carpeta con los ficheros excel, no olvidar la ultima barra

for s=sujeto
    ss=num2str(s);

task ='av';

filename=[path  ss 'av.xls']; %se indica que fichero va a ser analizado 




estimulo=xlsread(filename,'C6:C3000'); 
tiempo2=xlsread(filename,'D6:D3000'); 
tiempo=tiempo2/10;
tiemposus=zeros(size(tiempo));
for i = 3:length(tiempo)-1
tiemposus (i)=tiempo(i+1)-tiempo(i);
end

resultado_cond1Cs=zeros(size(estimulo));
result_tr_cond1Cs=resultado_cond1Cs;
resultado_cond2Cs=zeros(size(estimulo));
result_tr_cond2Cs=resultado_cond2Cs;

resultado_cond3Cs=zeros(size(estimulo));
result_tr_cond3Cs=resultado_cond3Cs;

resultado_cond4Cs=zeros(size(estimulo));
resultado_cond5Cs=zeros(size(estimulo));
resultado_cond6Cs=zeros(size(estimulo));


for i = 1:length(estimulo)

    % descripcion de los codigos para cada condicion
    
if (estimulo(i)==15) &&  (estimulo(i+1)==51  && (estimulo(i+2)==111  || estimulo(i+2)==112) && tiemposus (i+2) <= 2000)                    
        resultado_cond1Cs(i)=1;
        result_tr_cond1Cs(i)=tiemposus(i+1);

elseif (estimulo(i)==25) &&  (estimulo(i+1)==52  && (estimulo(i+2)==111  || estimulo(i+2)==112) && tiemposus (i+2) <= 2000)                    
        resultado_cond2Cs(i)=1;
        result_tr_cond2Cs(i)=tiemposus(i+1);
           
elseif (estimulo(i)==35) &&  (estimulo(i+1)==53  && (estimulo(i+2)==111  || estimulo(i+2)==112) && tiemposus (i+2) <= 2000)                    
        resultado_cond3Cs(i)=1;
        result_tr_cond3Cs(i)=tiemposus(i+1);        

elseif (estimulo(i)==16) && (estimulo(i+1)==61 && (estimulo(i+1)== estimulo(end) || estimulo(i+2)~=11 || estimulo(i+2)~=12))
 resultado_cond4Cs(i)=1;

elseif (estimulo(i)==26) && (estimulo(i+1)==62 && (estimulo(i+1)== estimulo(end) || estimulo(i+2)~=11 || estimulo(i+2)~=12))
 resultado_cond5Cs(i)=1;

elseif (estimulo(i)==36) && (estimulo(i+1)==63 && (estimulo(i+1)== estimulo(end) || estimulo(i+2)~=11 || estimulo(i+2)~=12))
 resultado_cond6Cs(i)=1;        
         
   end
end

    
%crear una columna con los valores de cada condicion

resultado_cond1Cs(~any(resultado_cond1Cs,2),:)=[];
result_tr_cond1Cs(~any(result_tr_cond1Cs,2),:)=[];
resultado_cond2Cs(~any(resultado_cond2Cs,2),:)=[];
result_tr_cond2Cs(~any(result_tr_cond2Cs,2),:)=[];
resultado_cond3Cs(~any(resultado_cond3Cs,2),:)=[];
result_tr_cond3Cs(~any(result_tr_cond3Cs,2),:)=[];

resultado_cond4Cs(~any(resultado_cond4Cs,2),:)=[];
resultado_cond5Cs(~any(resultado_cond5Cs,2),:)=[];
resultado_cond6Cs(~any(resultado_cond6Cs,2),:)=[];

NESTGO=length(resultado_cond1Cs);
TRESTGO=mean(result_tr_cond1Cs);
NDEVGO=length(resultado_cond2Cs);
TRDEVGO=mean(result_tr_cond2Cs);
NNOVGO=length(resultado_cond3Cs);
TRNOVGO=mean(result_tr_cond3Cs);

NESTNOGO=length(resultado_cond4Cs);
NDEVNOGO=length(resultado_cond5Cs);
NNOVNOGO=length(resultado_cond6Cs);


%crear fila con valores del sujeto
a= [NESTGO,NDEVGO,NNOVGO,NESTNOGO,NDEVNOGO,NNOVNOGO,TRESTGO,TRDEVGO,TRNOVGO];


Z(x,:)= a;
      
x=x+1;
    
        

        
        
clear a        
clear result*
clear i
clear tiempo2



end


end

Here is Script 2 (the one with the error):

for x=1
sujeto=[1007]; %poner los codigos de sujeto entre corchetes
path='C:\Users\so_sana\Documents\MATLAB\Ficheros_excel\'; %set path for the ecel file(s), no olvidar la ultima barra

for s=sujeto
    ss=num2str(s);

task ='av';

filename=[path  ss 'av.xls']; %se indica que fichero va a ser analizado 




estimulo=xlsread(filename,'C6:C4000'); 
tiempo2=xlsread(filename,'D6:D4000'); 
tiempo=tiempo2/10;
tiemposus=zeros(size(tiempo));
for i = 3:length(tiempo)-1
tiemposus (i)=tiempo(i+1)-tiempo(i);
end

resultado_cond1Cs=zeros(size(estimulo));
result_tr_cond1Cs=resultado_cond1Cs;
resultado_cond2Cs=zeros(size(estimulo));
result_tr_cond2Cs=resultado_cond2Cs;
resultado_cond3Cs=zeros(size(estimulo));
result_tr_cond3Cs=resultado_cond3Cs;
resultado_cond4Cs=zeros(size(estimulo));
result_tr_cond4Cs=resultado_cond4Cs;

resultado_cond5Cs=zeros(size(estimulo));
resultado_cond6Cs=zeros(size(estimulo));
resultado_cond7Cs=zeros(size(estimulo));
resultado_cond8Cs=zeros(size(estimulo));


for i = 1:length(estimulo)

    % description of codes for each condition
    
%cond1Cs: Go (miss): 41/42/43/51/52/53 sin respuesta, seguida de auditivo con Go (correcta):41/42/43/51/52/53 seguido de 111/112
if (estimulo(i)==41 || estimulo(i)==42  ||  estimulo(i)==43 || estimulo(i)==51 || estimulo(i)==52  ||  estimulo(i)==53) && (estimulo (i)== estimulo(end)) && (estimulo(i+1)==14 || estimulo(i+1)==15 ||estimulo(i+1)==24 || estimulo(i+1)==25 ||estimulo(i+1)==34 || estimulo(i+1)==35) &&  (estimulo(i+2)==41  || estimulo(i+2)==42 || estimulo(i+2)==43  || estimulo(i+2)==53 || estimulo(i+2)==51 || estimulo(i+2)==52) && (estimulo(i+3)==111  || estimulo(i+3)==112)&& tiemposus (i+3) <= 2000
        resultado_cond1Cs(i)=1;
        result_tr_cond1Cs(i)=tiemposus(i+2);

%cond2Cs: Go (corr/incorr): 41/42/43/51/52/53 seguida de R 111/112/11/12, seguida de auditivo con Go (correcta):41/42/43/51/52/53 seguido de 111/112
elseif (estimulo(i)==41 || estimulo(i)==42  ||  estimulo(i)==43 || estimulo(i)==51 || estimulo(i)==52  ||  estimulo(i)==53) && (estimulo (i+1)==111  || estimulo(i+1)==112 || estimulo(i+1)==11 || estimulo(i+1)==12) && (estimulo(i+2)==14 || estimulo(i+2)==15 ||estimulo(i+2)==24 || estimulo(i+2)==25 ||estimulo(i+2)==34 || estimulo(i+2)==35) && (estimulo(i+3)==41  || estimulo(i+3)==42 || estimulo(i+3)==43  || estimulo(i+3)==53 || estimulo(i+3)==51 || estimulo(i+3)==52) && (estimulo(i+4)==111  || estimulo(i+4)==112) && tiemposus (i+4) <= 2000 
        resultado_cond2Cs(i)=1;
        result_tr_cond2Cs(i)=tiemposus(i+3);
          
%cond7Cs: Go (miss): 41/42/43/51/52/53 sin respuesta, seguida de auditivo 16/26/36 con NoGo (correcta): 61/62/63 sin R
elseif (estimulo(i)==41 || estimulo(i)==42  ||  estimulo(i)==43 || estimulo(i)==51 || estimulo(i)==52  ||  estimulo(i)==53) && (estimulo (i)== estimulo(end))&& (estimulo(i+1)==16 || estimulo(i+1)==26 ||estimulo(i+1)==36) &&  (estimulo(i+2)==61 || estimulo(i+2)==62  ||  estimulo(i+2)==63) && (estimulo (i+2)== estimulo(end) || estimulo(i+3)~=11 || estimulo(i+3)~=12)
        resultado_cond7Cs(i)=1;
    
%cond8Cs: Go (corr/incorr): 41/42/43/51/52/53 seguida de R 111/112/11/12, seguida de auditivo 16/26/36 con NoGo (correcta): 61/62/63 sin R
elseif (estimulo(i)==41 || estimulo(i)==42  ||  estimulo(i)==43 || estimulo(i)==51 || estimulo(i)==52  ||  estimulo(i)==53) && (estimulo (i+1)==111  || estimulo(i+1)==112 || estimulo(i+1)==11 || estimulo(i+1)==12) && (estimulo(i+2)==16 || estimulo(i+2)==26 ||estimulo(i+2)==36) &&  (estimulo(i+3)==61 || estimulo(i+3)==62  ||  estimulo(i+3)==63) && (estimulo (i+3)== estimulo(end) || estimulo(i+4)~=11 || estimulo(i+4)~=12)
        resultado_cond8Cs(i)=1;
        
%cond3Cs: NoGo (correctas): 61/62/63 sin R, seguida de auditivo 14/15/24/25/34/35 con Go (correcta):41/42/43/51/52/53 seguido de 111/112
elseif (estimulo(i)==61 || estimulo(i)==62  ||  estimulo(i)==63) && (estimulo (i)== estimulo(end)) && (estimulo(i+1)==14 || estimulo(i+1)==15 ||estimulo(i+1)==24 || estimulo(i+1)==25 || estimulo(i+1)==34 ||estimulo(i+1)==35) &&  (estimulo(i+2)==41  || estimulo(i+2)==42 || estimulo(i+2)==43  || estimulo(i+2)==53 || estimulo(i+2)==51 || estimulo(i+2)==52) && (estimulo(i+3)==111  || estimulo(i+3)==112)&& tiemposus (i+3) <= 2000 
        resultado_cond3Cs(i)=1;
        result_tr_cond3Cs(i)=tiemposus(i+2);  
        
%cond4Cs: NoGo (con R incorrecta): 61/62/63 con R 11/12, seguida de auditivo 14/15/24/25/34/35 con Go (correcta):41/42/43/51/52/53 seguido de 111/112
elseif (estimulo(i)==61 || estimulo(i)==62  ||  estimulo(i)==63) && (estimulo (i+1)==11  || estimulo(i+1)==12) && (estimulo(i+1)==14 || estimulo(i+1)==15 ||estimulo(i+1)==24 || estimulo(i+1)==25 || estimulo(i+1)==34 ||estimulo(i+1)==35) &&  (estimulo(i+3)==41  || estimulo(i+3)==42 || estimulo(i+3)==43  || estimulo(i+3)==53 || estimulo(i+3)==51 || estimulo(i+3)==52) && (estimulo(i+4)==111  || estimulo(i+4)==112)&& tiemposus (i+4) <= 2000 
        resultado_cond4Cs(i)=1;
        result_tr_cond4Cs(i)=tiemposus(i+3);
  
%cond5Cs: NoGo (correctas) 61/62/63 sin R, seguida de auditivo 16/26/36 con NoGo (correcta): 61/62/63 sin R
elseif (estimulo(i)==61 || estimulo(i)==62  ||  estimulo(i)==63) && (estimulo (i)== estimulo(end)) && (estimulo(i+1)==16 || estimulo(i+1)==26 ||estimulo(i+1)==36) &&  (estimulo(i+2)==61 || estimulo(i+2)==62  ||  estimulo(i+2)==63) && (estimulo (i+2)== estimulo(end))
        resultado_cond5Cs(i)=1;
      
%cond6Cs: NoGo (con R incorrecta): 61/62/63 con R 11/12, seguida de auditivo 16/26/36 con NoGo (correcta): 61/62/63 sin R
elseif (estimulo(i)==61 || estimulo(i)==62  ||  estimulo(i)==63) && (estimulo (i+1)==11  || estimulo(i+1)==12) && (estimulo(i+2)==16 || estimulo(i+2)==26 ||estimulo(i+2)==36) &&  (estimulo(i+3)==61 || estimulo(i+3)==62  ||  estimulo(i+3)==63) && (estimulo (i+3)== estimulo(end) || estimulo(i+4)~=11 || estimulo(i+4)~=12)
        resultado_cond6Cs(i)=1;
        
end
end

    
%crear una columna con los valores de cada condicion

resultado_cond1Cs(~any(resultado_cond1Cs,2),:)=[];  
result_tr_cond1Cs(~any(result_tr_cond1Cs,2),:)=[];
resultado_cond2Cs(~any(resultado_cond2Cs,2),:)=[];
result_tr_cond2Cs(~any(result_tr_cond2Cs,2),:)=[];
resultado_cond3Cs(~any(resultado_cond3Cs,2),:)=[];
result_tr_cond3Cs(~any(result_tr_cond3Cs,2),:)=[];
resultado_cond4Cs(~any(resultado_cond4Cs,2),:)=[];
result_tr_cond4Cs(~any(result_tr_cond4Cs,2),:)=[];

resultado_cond5Cs(~any(resultado_cond5Cs,2),:)=[];
resultado_cond6Cs(~any(resultado_cond6Cs,2),:)=[];
resultado_cond7Cs(~any(resultado_cond7Cs,2),:)=[];
resultado_cond8Cs(~any(resultado_cond8Cs,2),:)=[];


NoGOGO1=length(resultado_cond1Cs);
TRGOGO1=mean(result_tr_cond1Cs);
NoGOGO2=length(resultado_cond2Cs);
TRGOGO2=mean(result_tr_cond2Cs);
NoNOGOGO1=length(resultado_cond3Cs);
TRNOGOGO1=mean(result_tr_cond3Cs);
NoNOGOGO2=length(resultado_cond4Cs);
TRNOGOGO2=mean(result_tr_cond4Cs);

NoNOGONOGO1=length(resultado_cond5Cs);
NoNOGONOGO2=length(resultado_cond6Cs);
NoGONOGO1=length(resultado_cond7Cs);
NoGONOGO2=length(resultado_cond8Cs);


%crear fila con valores del sujeto
a= [NoGOGO1,TRGOGO1,NoGOGO2,TRGOGO2,NoNOGOGO1,TRNOGOGO1,NoNOGOGO2,TRNOGOGO2,NoNOGONOGO1,NoNOGONOGO2,NoGONOGO1,NoGONOGO2]; 


Z(x,:)= a;
      
x=x+1;
    
        

        
        
clear a        
clear result*
clear i
clear tiempo2



end


end

Here is the error to Script 2:

And attached you can find an eample datafile from one subject (1007, the one used for testing both scripts).

Hope you can help me!!

[Rik]

Essentially a duplicate for this question.

[Susana Cid Fernández]

Yes, I reformulated the question, as it seemed to need more information to be understood. The other question is already closed. Maybe it would have been better to edit the other one, I don't know. I apologize if you feel I ignored your last suggestion, but I wanted to make you see thfully working script. I felt absolutely lost with your last suggestion, I just don't know how to implement it, and maybe seeing the working one with the example datafile you might be able to think about an "easier" modification. Easier for me is to make as few changes as possible, as I am not able tu understand most of it :)

[Rik]

Did you try running my code? It was self-contained and showed you how you could replace those huge lists of condition, as well as how to find a pattern. I think it is better to re-think bulky code, than to apply a hack that would push the problem into the future.

I don't think this post should be deleted, but I don't think that other post should be deleted either (which may happen 30 days after closing).

For now, I would urge you to look into the advice you have gotten so far on this thread, especially that of Image Analyst.

[Stephen23]

Duplicate (with ignored answer):

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/438390-index-exceeds-matri-dimensions

[Susana Cid Fernández]

Yes Rik, I am working on your code. I am making changes, trying to understand what your code does and how to adapt it to my needs. I'll ask you a lot of questions soon. Thanks!

Stephen, as you can see, nobody is ignoring nobody :)

[Susana Cid Fernández]

Thak you all for you comments and help. Finally with Image Analyst's instructions the code works. But in the future I will use you advice Rik! Thank you so much for your patience.

[Image Analyst]

You're welcome Susana. Could you then go down to my Answer and click "Accept this answer"? Thanks in advance. Accepting Answers gives answerers "credit" for the answer in terms of reputation points.

Answer 1

[Image Analyst]

Please follow my instructions from the other thread. Essentially i+3 is longer than one of the vectors. OK if you don't want to set a breakpoint and find out what it is, put this line just below the "for" line so it's the first in the loop

for i = 1:length(estimulo)
        fprintf('Length of estimulo is %d and trying to access index %d\n', length(estimulo), i+3);

Tell me what you see: give me the last black line plus all the red text.

I mean, anyone can see right off the bat that since i goes to length(estimula) and you're trying to access 3 indexes beyond that, you'll get an error. If length(estimulo) is 100 and you're trying to access 100 + 3 = 103, it will throw an error because there is no index of 103 - that's beyond the end of the vector.

[Susana Cid Fernández]

Thank you, Image Analist. I apologize for "ignoring" your previous response, but believe me, when I do not respond is because I just don't know what to do with some of the instructions.

You are absolutely right, that's eactly the problem:

I understand now, the last 4 items in the "stimuli" column in the dataset are:

16

61

16

61

That is why the error is only at the four last conditions, those where start with "61" (among others) and I ask for i+2 or i+3. I suppose I should change a lot of stuff (possibly following Rik Wisselink's advice), but maybe it is possible to avoid this error in a simpler way?

Again, excuse my ignorance...

[Image Analyst]

Maybe you should have your loop end 3 indexes earlier:

for i = 1 : length(estimulo) - 3
        fprintf('Length of estimulo is %d and trying to access index %d\n', length(estimulo), i+3);      

That way you won't go past the end of it.

Also, it's recommended not to use i (the imaginary variable) as your loop index. Use k or some other name.

[Susana Cid Fernández]

Thank you so much, now it works!

Answer 2

[per isakson]

Proposal: Set a breakpoint at the line that throws the error. Run the code again. At the breakpoint, inspect the values of the variables, which occur in the line, which throws the error.

See: Debug a MATLAB Program and Examine Values While Debugging

Or instead of setting a breakpoint run these commands before you run your code

dbstop if error
dbstop if caught error 

[Susana Cid Fernández]

Thaks per. The error is now clear. Hope to fix it soon!