psychopy visual TypeError: 'str' object is not callable

Valeebarons

Hi there,

I am writing to ask for your help because I get an error in my OpenSesame script that I can't really solve.

In my program there is an algorithm running which changes state (i.e. seizure/non-seizure) detecting in real time a stream of EEG data. The algorithm runs with a clock that is independent from the clock of the main experiment (i.e. the visual stimuli presentation). Using the psycho back-end, stimuli and a background animated background are shown. The subject has to press a Joystick button (implemented via PyGame) in order to give the right response. Therefore, while the subject sees the stimuli appear on the screen and responds to them by pressing the Joystick button, the algorithm processes the EEG data and makes the stimuli change according to the state the algorithm enters.

What happens is that anytime the algorithm enters the "seizure" state and the subject does not press the button in time, the function I repeatedly use both for the practice and the experimental session during a "non-seizure" state, does not work. I get this error: TypeError: 'str' object is not callable

The function I am talking about is the following:

def no_resp():
    draw_after()
    TextStim3.draw()
    win.flip()
    clock.sleep(1000)

In particular the error in no_resp() is related to the line of win.flip(), which sounds very weird to me because all the other functions defined (which use win.flip() as well) when the subject gives both a correct or a wrong button press work fine in both states of the algorithm. Here it is how these functions are called in the inline script I use for stimuli presentation:

#If correct answer is given within time
if var.responseKey == var.correct_response:
     [var.resRate_seizure, var.accu_seizure] = good_resp(var.resRate_seizure, var.accu_seizure)
#If false answer is given within time
elif var.responseKey != var.correct_response and var.responseTime != 0:
     var.resRate_seizure = false_resp(var.resRate_seizure)
#No response
elif var.responseTime == 0:
     no_resp()

Also, the same function (i.e. no_resp()) works perfectly during the practice trial and in the "non-absence" state of the algorithm.

I tried to check if any possible string I defined would show a similar name to win.flip. I tried to readdress all the win I have in the program (e.g. Distractor_r = visual.Circle(win =win, units="pix", radius=50, fillColor=random.choice(["green", "Blue", "Red", "Magenta", "Orange"]), pos = (-800,85)).

I also tried to remove the function from that condition (i.e. elif var.responseTime == 0:) and just print something. In that case the error still persists on win.flip(), but this time it appears in the pre-stimuli animated background that is shown before stimuli are presented.

I have a hard time understanding what is happening. Can you maybe help me figuring it out? Is something somebody is familiar with as well?

Thanks a lot in advance for your time!

Best,

Valentina

sebastiaan

Hi @Valeebarons ,

If the error indeed originates from win.flip() then this means that somewhere a str is assigned to this (win.flip = 'a string'), so that what should be a function has become a str .

But are you sure that the error originates from this line? Can you post the full error message, including the traceback and the item stack?

-- Sebastiaan

Valeebarons

Hi Sebastiaan,

Here it is:

item: Stimuli
phase: run
item-stack: experiment[run].Real_exp[run].absence_loop[run].absence_trial[run].Stimuli[run]
exception type: TypeError
exception message: 'str' object is not callable

Traceback:
File "C:\Users\vb\Anaconda3\envs\opensesame-py3\lib\site-packages\libopensesame\inline_script.py", line 116, in run
  self.workspace._exec(self.crun)
 File "C:\Users\vb\Anaconda3\envs\opensesame-py3\lib\site-packages\libopensesame\base_python_workspace.py", line 124, in _exec
  exec(bytecode, self._globals)
 Inline script, line 47, in <module>
 Inline script, line 115, in no_resp
 File "C:\Users\vb\Anaconda3\envs\opensesame-py3\lib\site-packages\psychopy\visual\window.py", line 1132, in flip
  callEntry['function'](*callEntry['args'], **callEntry['kwargs'])
TypeError: 'str' object is not callable

Line 47 in module corresponds to no_resp(), and line 115 in no_resp() corresponds to win.flip.

Thank you for your help.

Best,

Valentina

sebastiaan

Hi @Valeebarons ,

Are you trying to register a function by calling win.callOnFlip() and then accidentally passing a string rather than a function to it?

— Sebastiaan

Valeebarons

Hi Sebastiaan,

ouch, yes that was the case, I forgot to add the function in one of the win.callOnFlip() I am using. My bad.

Thank you so much for your help!!

Best,

Valentina