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*RAPID VISUAL INFORMATION PROCESSING*
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Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
last updated: 03-11-2020 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Script Copyright © 03-11-2020 Millisecond Software
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BACKGROUND INFO
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This script implements the Rapid Visual Information Processing Task, a measures of processing speed
and performance.
The implemented procedure is based on:
Wesnes, K. & Wartburton, D.M (1984), Effects of scopolamine and nicotine on human rapid information
processing performance. Psychopharmacology, 82, 147-150.
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TASK DESCRIPTION
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A participant is presented with a series of digits (1-9) on a computer screen. The presentation time
is 100 digits/min (or 1digit/600ms). The participant's task is to press a response key (here: Spacebar)
as soon as she detects a series of three consecutive odd or three consecutive even digits.
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DURATION
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the default set-up of the script takes appr. 14 minutes to complete
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DATA FILE INFORMATION
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The default data stored in the data files are:
(1) Raw data file: 'rvip.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
script.sessionid: 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.
values.focusdigit3: the three digits that need to be checked to see if they are all odd or all even
values.focusdigit2:
values.focusdigit1 :
values.digit: the digit presented in the current trial
values.btwtargets_counter: counts the number of digits between target trials
values.target: 0 = no target presented;
1 = target presented (the third digit in a row of either all odd or all even digits)
Note: while the current digit may not be a target, the trial might still accept
target responses if the previous target is still active
values.targetstarttime: the script elapsed time (in ms) the last target was presented
values.starttrialtime: the script elapsed time the current trial started (in ms)
parameters.target_responsewindow: the time window during which a target is active (here: up until 1500ms after onset of a target, consistent with Wesnes & Wartburton (1984))
values.target_responseendtime: values.starttrial of a target-trial + values.interval (in ms)
values.targetactive: 0 = target not active;
1 = target still active (even though the currently presented digit itself might not be a target)
response: the participant's response (e.g. scancode of response key)
57 = spacebar
0 = no response
correct: the correctness of the response (1 = correct; 0 = incorrect)
values.responsetime: the script elapsed time when a spacebar response is made (in ms)
values.RT_hit: the response latency (in ms) for the current Hit;
=> calculated as difference between responsetime-targetstarttime
=> thus measures the time it took to hit spacebar after a target was presented
(latency measured from onset of last target)
latency: the trial latency (in ms) (for the current trial)
Note: measures the response time of hitting the spacebar measured
from onset of current digit (if no response, this variable stores the trial duration)
values.Hit: 1 = spacebar press was registered during the current trial while a target was still active
0 = no spacebar press was registered during the current trial while a target was still active
"" (empty): no active target during the current trial
values.FA: 1 = spacebar press was registered during the current trial while no target was active
0 = no spacebar press was registered during the current trial while no target was active
"" (empty): the target was still active during the current trial
values.SumTargets: counts how many targets have been presented
values.SumHit: counts the number of Hits
values.SumFA: counts the number of False Alarms
(2) Summary data file: 'rvip_summary*.iqdat' (a separate file for each participant)
computer.platform: the platform the script was run on (win/mac/ios/android)
script.startdate: date script was run
script.starttime: time script was started
script.subjectid: assigned subject id number
script.groupid: assigned group id number
script.sessionid: assigned session id number
script.elapsedtime: time it took to run script (in ms); measured from onset to offset of script
script.completed: 0 = script was not completed (prematurely aborted);
1 = script was completed (all conditions run)
expressions.propcorrect: proportion correct target detection (test)
values.SumTargets: counts how many targets have been presented (test)
values.SumHit: counts the number of Hits (test)
values.SumFA: counts the number of False Alarms (test)
expressions.meanRT_hit: determines the mean hit RT (in ms) - measured from onset of last target digit (test only)
expressions.Std_hit: determines standard deviation of hit RTs (test only)
expressions.medianRT_hit: determines the median hit RT (in ms) - measured from onset of last target digit (test only)
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EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
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This script provides a testing sequence of 1200 digits with 97 target sequences as well as a practice sequence
of 20 digits with 2 target sequences. The target sequences (testing) are separated by a minimum of 5 and
a maximum of 33 digits (Mean = 9.3). Feedback is provided at the end of each block - to remove feedback go to
section BLOCKS and follow further instructions.
The response is scored as a Hit if the participant reacts within 1500ms (target response window described
in article, can be changed by experimenter in this script) of onset of the last digit of a target sequence.
Any response that occurs later is scored as a False Alarm.
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STIMULI
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see section Editable Lists for the currently available stim sequences
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INSTRUCTIONS
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to edit instructions, go to section Editable Instructions
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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:
getReadyDuration: the duration (in ms) of the get-ready-trial (default: 2000ms)
target_responsewindow: the time window (in ms) during which a target is active
(here: up until 1500ms after onset of a target, consistent with Wesnes & Wartburton (1984))
presentationtime: how long (in ms) a stimulus is presented before the next one replaces it (= frequency of showing a stimulus)
(here: 100 digits/ 1min => 600ms per stimulus, consistent with Wesnes & Wartburton (1984).)
digitheight: controls the size of the digits (percentage of screen height, default: 5%)
sequencelength_practice: the length of the practice sequence
Note: if the number is changed here, list.digitsequence_practice might also need to be updated
sequencelength_test: the length of the test sequence
Note: if the number is changed here, list.digitsequence might also need to be updated
debugmode: true (1): the script is run in debugmode (target alerts are presented on screen)
false (0): the script is run in test mode (default)