Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Created: January 24, 2016
Last Modified: January 10, 2023 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements a sequenced serial reaction time task (with 4 different response buttons) based on several publications and the help of Dr. Maarten Immink:
Nissen, M. J., & Bullemer, P. (1987). Attentional requirements of learning: Evidence from performance measures. Cognitive Psychology, 19, 1–32.
Reed, J. & Johnson, Peder (1994). Assessing Implicit Learning With Indirect Tests: Determining What Is Learned About Sequence Structure. Journal of Experimental Psychology: LMC, 20, 585-594.
Abrahamse, E.L & Verwey, W.B. (2008). Context dependent learning in the serial RT task. Psychological Research, 72:397–404.
Millisecond thanks Dr. Maarten Immink for his collaboration and assistance with this script!
1.5h minutes
Participants are presented 4 gray boxes in 4 possible screen positions and have to press a spatially corresponding response button as fast as possible once one of the boxes turns red. The task is divided into a 1) familiarization phase, involving a randomized order of stimulus presentation (default: 36 trials), 2) a) pre-transfer sequence learning phase during which the screen position of the red box order of the stimulus presentation follows a predetermined (repeating) sequence (default: 12 blocks), b) a transfer phase, involving a new predetermined (repeating) sequence (default: 1 block) and c) a post-transfer phase, involving the re-introduction of the sequence (repeating) presented during learning (default: 1 block).
- 1 blocks of 36 Familiarization/Familiarization trials (number of blocks can be edited under Editable Parameters)
with error feedback
- digit order of stimulus presentation is randomly determined with the constraint that successive positions are
different (aka no immediate position repeats)
- break after each block - unless it's the last familiarization block
Learning and Transfer Phases:
- 12 Learning blocks of 120 learning trials each (12-item sequence repeated for 10 cycles)
- each Learning block runs 10 repetitions of the learning sequence (see list.learning under Editable Lists)
- break after each block (default: 30s; editable)
- 1 Transfer block of 120 learning trials using a slightly different sequence
- each transfer block runs the transfer sequence (see list.transfer under Editable Lists)
- break after each block (default: 30s; editable)
- 1 postTransfer block of 120 learning trials using the learning sequence
- each postTransfer block runs 10 repetitions of the learning sequence (see list.learning under Editable Lists)
- break after each block (default: 30s; editable) - unless it's the last
Each block starts with presentation of 4 gray boxes before presentation of the stimulus for the first trial in each block.
After a response, the next target is presented after a response-stimulus interval (default RSI is 50 ms;
this can be edited under Editable Parameters).
If error feedback is provided, feedback is provided immediately after the error response and is followed by the RSI.
4 gray boxes - size and screen location can be edited under Editable Parameters.
Abrahamse & Verwey (2008), e.g., used a viewing distance of 50cm and the stimulus angle measured 2.3° × 2.0°
Position of targets (box turning red) can be edited under section Editable Lists
are not original; edit under section Editable Instructions
File Name: serialreactiontimetask_summary*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| inquisit.version | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| 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 |
| propCorrectOverall | Determines the overall proportion correct in learning, transfer and post-transfer trials |
| meanRTOverall | Determines the overall mean latency (in ms) of correct responses in learning, transfer and post-transfer trials |
| meadianRTOverall | Determines the overall median latency (in ms) of correct responses in learning, transfer and post-transfer trials propCorrectFamiliarization1- |
| propCorrectFamiliarization3 | The proportion correct in Familiarization Block 1 - 3 (separate for each block) if default number of Familiarization Blocks was increased, add corresponding values below and edit blocks and summary data accordingly propCorrectLearning1- |
| propCorrectLearning12 | The proportion correct in Learning Block 1 - 12 (separate for each block) if default number of Learning Blocks was increased, add corresponding code under: section VALUES/BLOCKS/DATA |
| propCorrectTransfer1 | The proportion correct in Transfer Block 1 if default number of Transfer Blocks was increased, add corresponding code under: section VALUES/BLOCKS/DATA |
| propCorrectPostTransfer1 | The proportion correct in Post-Transfer Block 1 if default number of Post-Transfer Blocks was increased, add corresponding code under: section VALUES/BLOCKS/DATA meanRTFamiliarization- |
| meanRTFamiliarization3 | Mean reaction time (in ms) of correct responses in Familiarization Block 1-3 (separate for each block) if default number of Familiarization Blocks was increased, add corresponding values below and edit blocks and summary data accordingly meanRTLearning1- |
| meanRTLearning12 | Mean reaction time (in ms) of correct responses in Learning Block 1-12 (separate for each block) if default number of Learning Blocks was increased, add corresponding code under: section VALUES/BLOCKS/DATA |
| meanRTTransfer1 | Mean reaction time (in ms) of correct responses in Transfer Block 1 if default number of Transfer Blocks was increased, add corresponding code under: section VALUES/BLOCKS/DATA |
| meanRTPostTransfer1 | Mean reaction time (in ms) of correct responses in Post-Transfer Block 1 if default number of Post-Transfer Blocks was increased, add corresponding code under: section VALUES/BLOCKS/DATA medianRTFamiliarization- |
| medianRTFamiliarization3 | Median reaction time (in ms) of correct responses in Familiarization Block 1-3 (separate for each block) if default number of Familiarization Blocks was increased, add corresponding values below and edit blocks and summary data accordingly medianRTLearning1- |
| medianRTLearning12 | Median reaction time (in ms) of correct responses in Learning Block 1-12 (separate for each block) if default number of Learning Blocks was increased, add corresponding code under: section VALUES/BLOCKS/DATA |
| medianRTTransfer1 | Median reaction time (in ms) of correct responses in Transfer Block 1 if default number of Transfer Blocks was increased, add corresponding code under: section VALUES/BLOCKS/DATA |
| medianRTPostTransfer1 | Median reaction time (in ms) of correct responses in Post-Transfer Block 1 if default number of Post-Transfer Blocks was increased, add corresponding code under: section VALUES/BLOCKS/DATA |
File Name: serialreactiontimetask_raw*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| build | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| date | Date the session was run |
| time | Time the session was run |
| subject | Participant ID |
| group | Group number |
| session | Session number |
| blockCode | Name of the current block |
| blockNum | Number of the current block |
| trialCode | Name of the current trial |
| trialNum | Number of the current trial |
| phase | "familiarization","learning", "transfer", "post-transfer" |
| countTestBlocks | Counts the number of test blocks (training + transfer) run |
| countLearningBlocks | Counts number of pre-transfer training blocks run |
| countTransferBlocks | Counts number of transfer blocks run |
| countpostTransferBlocks | Counts number of post transfer training blocks run |
| countTestTrials | Counts the test trials in a block (resets for each test block - does not count starter trials) |
| countSequenceReps | Counts the number of sequence reps in a block (does not count starter trials) |
| index | Helper variable to determine the next stim position |
| position | 1, 2, 3, or 4 => screen position of the stim (red box) from left to right |
| stimX | The screen position of the stim (red box) in canvas width percentages |
| response | The participant's response (scancode of response button) |
| correct | The correctness of the response (1 = correct; 0 = incorrect) |
| latency | The response latencyreaction time (in ms); measured from onset of red box stimulus |
The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.
| Name | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| numberFamiliarizationBlocks | Number of familiarization blocks to run ; setting it to 0 will skip this block | 1 |
| numberOfFamiliarizationTrials | Number of familiarization trials to run in a block | 36 |
| numberLearningBlocks | Sets the number of pre-transfer training blocks if default number is changed, summary variables might need to be edited (Go to section VALUES) | 12 |
| numberTransferBlocks | Sets the number of transfer blocks if default number is changed, summary variables might need to be edited (Go to section VALUES) | 1 |
| numberpostTransferBlocks | Sets the number of post-transfer training blocks if default number is changed, summary variables might need to be edited (Go to section VALUES) | 1 |
| numberOfSequenceRepsPerBlock | Sets the number of sequence repetitions in each training/transfer block | 10 |
| runErrorFeedback | True = error feedback (incorrect & too slow) is presented during test trials false = error feedback (incorrect & too slow) is not presented during test trials interface: 0% at the far left of canvas - 100% far right of canvas | |
| pos1X | The first horizonal box position from the left in canvas width percentages | |
| pos2X | The second horizonal box position from the left in canvas width percentages | |
| pos3X | The third horizonal box position from the left in canvas width percentages | |
| pos4X | The fourth horizonal box position from the left in canvas width percentages | |
| stimHeight | Height of the boxes in canvas height percentages Response Keys (from left to right) | 5% |
| responseKey1 | The first response button ("V") | |
| responseKey2 | The second response button ("B") | |
| responseKey3 | The third response button ("N") | |
| responseKey4 | The fourth response button ("M") Duration Paramters (in ms) | |
| responseWindow | Duration of response window (in ms) | 2000ms |
| rsi | Response Stimulus Interval in ms (interval between response and presentation of next stimulus) | 50ms |
| feedbackDuration | Duration (in ms) of feedback | 2000ms |
| breakDuration | The duration of the breaks (in ms) in between test blocks | 30000 |