___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Corsi Block-Tapping Task (Backwards) (German Version) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC (backward task) Script uses in large part the code of the Forward Corsi Block Tapping Task written by David Nitz (dave@millisecond.com) last updated: 05-03-2025 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC Script Copyright © 05-03-2025 Millisecond Software Translation by K. Borchert for Millisecond Software ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ BACKGROUND INFO ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ This script implements the Backward Corsi Block Tapping Task; a measure of spatial working memory. Note: The current script allows to run the Corsi Block Tapping Task with absolute stimulus sizing to ensure that the size of the Corsi blocks (with a target box size ~3cm) as well as their distances are constant across monitors. Absolute sizing of stimuli can easily be turned on and off as well as fine-tuned via parameter settings. The default settings for an absolute sized canvas are optimized for touchscreen devices sized like an ipad but adapts to mouse use on non-touchscreens. If absolute sizing is selected, the stimuli are absolutely sized if the current screen size is big enough - if not, the script uses the largest 4:3 portion of the current screen (e.g. smartphone screen) that it can find. Note that the default setup of this script uses proportional sizing only (absolute sizing is turned off by default) The implemented procedure is described in: Kessels, R.P.C., van den Berg, E., Ruis, C., & Brands, A.M. A. (2008). "The Backward Span of the Corsi Block-Tapping Task and Its Association With the WAIS-III Digit Span". Assessment, 15, 426–34. The script builds on the original Inquisit Corsi Block Tapping Task that implements the (forward) Corsi Block Tapping Task as described in: Kessels, R.P.C., van Zandvoort, M.J.E., Postma, A., Kappelle, L.J., & de Haan, E.H.F. (2000). The Corsi block-tapping task: Standardization and normative data. Applied Neuropsychology, 7(4), 252-258. Corsi, P. M. (1972). Human memory and the medial temporal region of the brain. Dissertation Abstracts International, 34, 819B. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TASK DESCRIPTION ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Participants are presented with a screen of 9 boxes. The boxes light up in a pre-fixed sequence (constant across participants) and participants are asked to click on the boxes in the REVERSED order. The sequence length starts at level = 2 boxes and can increase to up to level 8. Participants get 2 chances at each sequence length. If one of the sequences was entered correctly (that is in reversed fashion), the next sequence starts. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DURATION ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ the default set-up of the script takes appr. 5 minutes to complete ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DATA FILE INFORMATION ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The default data stored in the data files are: (1) Raw data file: 'corsiblocktappingtask_backwards_german_raw*.iqdat' (a separate file for each participant) build: The specific Inquisit version used (the 'build') that was run computer.platform: the platform the script was run on (win/mac/ios/android) date, time: date and time script was run subject, group: with the current subject/groupnumber session: with the current session id //Screen Setup: (parameter) runAbsoluteSizes: true (1) = should run absolutely sized canvas (see parameters- canvasHeight_inmm) false (0) = should use proportionally sized canvas (uses width = 43*screenHeight) canvasAdjustments: NA: not applicable => parameters- runAbsoluteSize was set to 'false' 0: parameters- runAbsoluteSize was set to 'true' and screen size was large enough 1: parameters- runAbsoluteSize was set to 'true' BUT screen size was too small and adjustments had to be made activeCanvasHeight_inmm: the width of the active canvas (by default: lightGray area) in mm activeCanvasWidth_inmm: the height of the active canvas in mm display.canvasHeight: the height of the active canvas in pixels display.canvasWidth: the width of the active canvas in pixels px_per_mm: the conversion factor to convert pixel data into mm-results for the current monitor (Note: the higher resolution of the current monitor the more pixels cover the same absolute screen distance) This factor is needed if you want to convert pixel data into absolute mm data or the other way around blockcode, blocknum: the name and number of the current block (built-in Inquisit variable) trialcode, trialnum: the name and number of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable) Note: trialnum is a built-in Inquisit variable; it counts all trials run; even those that do not store data to the data file such as feedback trials. Thus, trialnum may not reflect the number of main trials run per block. seqnumber The ordinal index number of the current block sequence. A maximum of 14 sequences are given in ascending order. seqlength Length of the current block sequence. seqstring The current sequence (stored forward) seqstring_backwards The current sequence (stored backwards). respstring The sequence entered by the participant (resets for each new sequence) response the response of the participant in a given trial correct '1' if the current sequence was recalled correctly. '0' if the participant made a mistake. latency the latency of the response (in ms) ncorrectinblock Holds the number of correctly recalled sequences in the current block. Sequences are given in blocks of two. The task stops as soon as the participant fails to recall two sequences of equal length. ncorrecttotal Total number of correctly recalled sequences across the whole task. Note: for the backward Corsi with levels 2-8, the max number of correctly recalled sequences = 14 blockspan The achieved Block Span. Equals the length of the last correctly recalled sequence. totalscore Summary score proposed by Kessels et al. (2000). Computed as 'values.blockspan' * 'values.ncorrecttotal'. (2) Summary data file: 'corsiblocktappingtask_backwards_german_summary*.iqdat' (a separate file for each participant) inquisit.version: Inquisit version run computer.platform: the platform the script was run on (win/mac/ios/android) startDate: date script was run startTime: time script was started subjectid: assigned subject id number groupid: assigned group id number sessionid: assigned session id number elapsedTime: time it took to run script (in ms); measured from onset to offset of script completed: 0 = script was not completed (prematurely aborted); 1 = script was completed (all conditions run) //Screen Setup: (parameter) runAbsoluteSizes: true (1) = should run absolutely sized canvas (see parameters- canvasHeight_inmm) false (0) = should use proportionally sized canvas (uses width = 43*screenHeight) canvasAdjustments: NA: not applicable => parameters- runAbsoluteSize was set to 'false' 0: parameters- runAbsoluteSize was set to 'true' and screen size was large enough 1: parameters- runAbsoluteSize was set to 'true' BUT screen size was too small and adjustments had to be made activeCanvasHeight_inmm: the width of the active canvas (by default: lightGray area) in mm activeCanvasWidth_inmm: the height of the active canvas in mm display.canvasHeight: the height of the active canvas in pixels display.canvasWidth: the width of the active canvas in pixels px_per_mm: the conversion factor to convert pixel data into mm-results for the current monitor (Note: the higher resolution of the current monitor the more pixels cover the same absolute screen distance) This factor is needed if you want to convert pixel data into absolute mm data or the other way around ncorrecttotal Total number of correctly recalled sequences across the whole task. Note: for the backward Corsi with levels 2-8, the max number of correctly recalled sequences = 14 blockspan The achieved Block Span. Equals the length of the last correctly recalled sequence. totalscore Summary score proposed by Kessels et al. (2000). Computed as 'values.blockspan' * 'values.ncorrecttotal'. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ * predetermined sequence of boxes (see section Editable Lists) * start level N=2 up to level 8 * 2 chances per level ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ INSTRUCTIONS ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ see section Editable Instructions ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ STIMULI ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Note: The current script runs the task with absolute stimulus sizing to ensure that the size of the Corsi blocks (with a target box size ~3cm) as well as their distances are constant across monitors. The default setupis optimized for touchscreen devices sized like an ipad but adapts to mouse use on non-touchscreens. Is the current screen NOT big enough for the specified blocksizes, the script uses the largest 4:3 portion of the current screen (e.g. smartphone screen) that it can find. Absolute sizing of stimuli can easily be turned off or adjusted via parameter settings. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EDITABLE CODE ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ check below for (relatively) easily editable parameters, stimuli, instructions etc. Keep in mind that you can use this script as a template and therefore always "mess" with the entire code to further customize your experiment. The parameters you can change are: