: Typically formatted as one line per imaging run, with numbers representing seconds from the start of the scan.

To understand the file, one must understand the hardware architecture defined by IEEE 1451.2. The standard divides a smart transducer system into two distinct parts:

These open stim files allow different laboratories to replicate experiments without being locked into a single hardware vendor.

Because STIM files are highly specialized, there is no universal "STIM to PDF" or "STIM to MP4" converter.

One of the most common applications of stim files is in functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). When a subject lies in an MRI scanner, they are shown images, sounds, or tasks. Researchers need to know exactly when these events occurred to understand which parts of the brain are activated by specific stimuli. The Role of AFNI and Stim Timing