def _get_stars(mn,bl,p, stim_enc=False):
    """
    Utility function to return number of stars indicating level of significance:
          p<0.05: '*'
         p<0.005: '**'
        p<0.0005: '***'
    """
    stars=''
    if not stim_enc:
        if mn>bl: # one-sided significance
            if p<0.05: stars='*'
            if p<0.005: stars='**'
            if p<0.0005: stars='***'
    else:
        if mn<bl: # one-sided significance
            if p<0.05: stars='*'
            if p<0.005: stars='**'
            if p<0.0005: stars='***'
    return stars