Arrow Flanker Task based on Ridderinkhof et al - 1997 - Keyboard
Technical Manual
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ARROW FLANKER TEST - keyboard input
* MAIN SCRIPT TO RUN *
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TASK VERSION
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English Version
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ARROW FLANKER TEST - keyboard input
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Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Created: 08-13-2018
Last Updated: 11-03-2025 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © 11-03-2025 Millisecond Software, LLC
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BACKGROUND INFO
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This script implements an short arrow version of the Flanker Test,
an inhibition test to assess the ability to suppress inappropriate dominant responses
evoked by task irrelevant information.
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REFERENCES
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Ridderinkhof, K.R.; van der Molen, M.W.; & Band, G.P.H (1997). Sources of Interference from Irrelevant Information:
A Developmental Study. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 65, 315–341.
(Note: Ridderinkhof et al. used a more extensive design of the arrow flanker test; the Inquisit
script only manipulates the direction of the center arrow)
The Inquisit Short Arrow Flanker Test-keyboard uses the keyboard instead of touchscreen input
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TASK DESCRIPTION
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Participants see 5 arrows in the middle of the screen inside a box. They have to decide whether the central arrow
points right or left. The surrounding arrows (=flankers) either point in the same direction (congruent trials)
or in the opposite direction (incongruent trials).
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DURATION
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3 minutes
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DATA OUTPUT DICTIONARY
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The fields in the data files are:
(1) Raw data file: 'arrowflankertest_keyboard_raw*.iqdat'
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
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.
practice: 0 = test block; 1 = practice block
blockCount: counts the test blocks run
countPracticeBlocks: counts the number of practice runs
trialCount: counts all trials per block
congruence: determines the state of the flankers
0 = congruent (target and flanker point in the same direction),
1 = incongruent (target points in opposite direction)
selectTarget: itemnumber of the current target (center) stimulus
0 = target points to right;
1 = target points to left
selectFlanker: itemnumber of the current flanker stimuli
response: the participant's response (scancode of response button)
16 = Q = left
25 = P = right
correct: the correctness of the response (0 = error or no response; 1 = correct)
latency: the response latency (in ms); measured from onset of target to response (or trial timeout)
propCorrectPractice: the current proportion correct at this point in practice
practicePass: 1 = participant passed practice;
0 = participant did not pass practice
(2) Summary data file: 'arrowflankertest_keyboard_summary*.iqdat'
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)
blockCount: number of test blocks run
countPracticeBlocks: counts the number of practice runs
propCorrectPractice: the proportion correct at the end of the last practice run
practicePass: 1 = participant passed practice;
0 = participant did not pass practice
propCorrect: overall proportion correct (test trials only)
meanRT: overall mean latency (in ms) of correct responses (test trials only)
propCorrectCongruent: proportion correct for all congruent trials
meanrtCongruent: mean latency (ms) of correct responses to congruent targets
propCorrectIncongruent: proportion correct for all incongruent trials
meanrtIncongruent: mean latency (ms) of correct responses to incongruent targets
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EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
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2 flanker congruence (congruent vs. incongruent), tested within
1-3 Practice Blocks: each block runs 8 trials with errorfeedback (number of trials can be edited under section Editable Parameters)
- participants have to get 75% correct to move on to the test block (proportion correct editable under section Editable Parameters)
- script is aborted after 3 unsuccessful practice runs (maximum number of practice runs editable under section Editable Parameters)
1 Test Block: runs 12 congruent (6 left, 6 right) and 12 incongruent trials (6 left, 6 right) (24 trials total)
(number of trials can be edited under section Editable Parameters)
Trial Sequence:
-> presents fixation star for parameters.fixationDuration (default: 1000ms)
-> presents the target and flanker and waits for response (default: response Timeout = 1750ms)
Note: the selected response button is highlighted for 100ms
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STIMULI
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stimuli: 5 arrows pointing right or left (flanker, flanker, target, flanker, flanker)
Arrows can be edited under section Editable Stimuli
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INSTRUCTIONS
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Instructions provided by Millisecond Softare.
They can be edited in script 'arrowflankertest_keyboard_instructions_inc.iqjs'
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EDITABLE CODE
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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:
/fixationDuration: the duration (in ms) of the fixation cross at the beginning of each trial (default: 1000ms)
/responseTimeout: the response Timeout (ms); measured from onset of arrows (default: 1750ms)
Note: to allow for infinite response time, remove /response = timeout(parameters.responseTimeout)
from all relevant trials
/correctFeedbackDuration: the duration (in ms) of correct feedback during practice (default: 1000ms)
/getReadyDuration: the duration (in ms) of the get-ready trial (default: 3000ms)
/minPracticeAcc: the minimum proportion correct during a practice run that moves participant to the test (default: 0.75)
/numberPracticeTrials: the number of practice trials per practice run (default: 8)
Note: needs to be divisible by 4
/maxPracticeRuns: the maximum number of practice runs (default: 3)
/numberTestTrials: the number of test trials run (default: 24)
Note: needs to be divisible by 4
/ leftResponseKey: the left response button (default: "Q")
/ rightResponseKey: the right response button (default: "P")
