Multi Source Interference Task Random Order MSIT

Technical Manual

This script was generously provided by Mario Wenzel, Thomas Kubiak and Tamlin Conner to be shared via Millisecond
Software's Script Library. Thank you!

Last Modified: January 15, 2023 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond

Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC

Background

This script implements a Multi Source Interference Task (cMSIT). The MSIT was originally designed by Bush et al (1998) as a behavioral fMRI task to assess the functional integrity of the acc subdivision in selected neuropsychiatric disorders. According to Bush et al the MSIT combines multiple dimensions of cognitive interference such as flanker, and Stroop interference.

The implemented procedure in this script with white stimuli and a random order of stimuli is similar to the procedure described in Wenzel et al (2013).

References

Wenzel, M., Kubiak, T., & Conner, T. S. (2013). Positive affect and self-control: Attention to self-control demands mediates the influence of positive affect on consecutive self-control. Cognition and Emotion. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2013.851069

Original MSIT: Bush, G., Shin, L.M., Holmes, J., Rosen, B.R., & Vogt, B.A. (2003). The Multi-Source Interference Task: Validation study with fMRI in individual subjects. Molecular Psychiatry, 8, 60–70.

Duration

2 minutes

Description

Participants are presented stimuli consisting of 3 digits (1, 2, 3s) (or 1 digit and 2 X's = controls). One of the digits is different from the flanking digits and differs in size. Participants are asked to press a response button (1, 2, 3) as fast as possible to report which digit was different.

Procedure

- This script runs 39 trials (3 control, 12 uni-source, 24 multi-source) in a random order.
- response buttons: 1, 2, 3 on keyboard and/or numeric pad

Trial Sequence:
- fixation cross for 500ms
- stimulus presented for 2000ms
- accuracy feedback 500ms after response or stimulus timeout

Stimuli

all stimuli are provided by Mario Wenzel, Thomas Kubiak and Tamlin Conner

control (target always printed larger): 3 (1 fontsize x 1 identities of flanking letters x 3 target digits x 1 possible positions of target digit)
uni-source (target position and response key position are congruent): 12 (2 fontsizes x 2 identities of flanking numbers x 3 target digits x 1 possible positions of target digit)
multi-source (target position and response key position are incongruent): 24 (2 fontsizes x 2 identities of flanking numbers x 3 target digits x 2 possible positions of target digit)

Instructions

instructions are provided by Mario Wenzel, Thomas Kubiak and Tamlin Conner
and can be edited under EDITABLE CODE -> Editable Instructions

Summary Data

File Name: msit_digit_random_summary*.iqdat

Data Fields

NameDescription
inquisit.version Inquisit version number
computer.platform Device platform: win | mac |ios | android
computer.touch 0 = device has no touchscreen capabilities; 1 = device has touchscreen capabilities
computer.hasKeyboard 0 = no external keyboard detected; 1 = external keyboard detected
startDate Date the session was run
startTime Time the session was run
subjectId Participant ID
groupId Group number
sessionId Session number
elapsedTime Session duration in ms
completed 0 = Test was not completed
1 = Test was completed
propCorrect Proportion correct overall
meanRT Mean latency (in ms) of all correct responses
std Standard deviation of all correct latencies
medianRT Median latency (in ms) of all correct responses

Raw Data

File Name: msit_digit_random_raw*.iqdat

Data Fields

NameDescription
build Inquisit version number
computer.platform Device platform: win | mac |ios | android
computer.touch 0 = device has no touchscreen capabilities; 1 = device has touchscreen capabilities
computer.hasKeyboard 0 = no external keyboard detected; 1 = external keyboard detected
date Date the session was run
time Time the session was run
subject Participant ID
group Group number
session Session number
blockcode The name the current block (built-in Inquisit variable)
blocknum The number of the current block (built-in Inquisit variable)
trialcode The name of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable)
trialnum The number of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable)
trialnum is a built-in Inquisit variable; it counts all trials run
even those that do not store data to the data file.
interferenceSource Uni = interfering digits but target digit's position and response key are congruent
multi = interfering digits AND target digit's position and response key are incongruent
control = no interfering digits, no interfering position and response key incongruency
corrResp The correct response key
stimulusItem.1-stimulusItem.2 The presented stimuli in order of trial presentation
response The participant's response (scancode of response key)
2,79 => 1
3, 80 => 2
4, 81 => 3
responseText Stores the actual label of the response key pressed ("1", "2", "3")
correct The correctness of the response (1 = correct; 0 = otherwise)
latency The response latency (measured from onset of stimulus, in ms)

Parameters

The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.

NameDescriptionDefault
stimPresentationDurationMS 2000: the duration (in ms) that the stims are presented (= response timeout)