Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Created: January 03, 2023
Last Modified: August 20, 2026 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements Millisecond's version of the Motor Praxis Task (MPT) described by Taylor et al (2019). The Motor Praxis Task tests psychomotor speed and visual tracking.
Researchers can select to run the task with an absolute screen size to ensure that distances stay the same across devices. The default setting is to use proportional sizing. Go to section Defaults for more information.
Taylor, Y., Merat, N., & Jamson, S. (2019). The Effects of Fatigue on Cognitive Performance in Police Officers and Staff During a Forward Rotating Shift Pattern. Safety and Health at Work, 10(1), 67–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2018.08.003
Gur, R. C., Richard, J., Hughett, P., Calkins, M. E., Macy, L., Bilker, W. B., Brensinger, C., & Gur, R. E. (2010). A cognitive neuroscience-based computerized battery for efficient measurement of individual differences: Standardization and initial construct validation. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 187(2), 254–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2009.11.017
2 minutes
Participants are asked to quickly touch a series of blue dots as they appear on the screen in random locations. The dots continuously get smaller in size on each new trial. This script allows test administrators to set the start and end size of the dots as well as the number of trials to run. Based on these three variables (number of trials, start- and end size), the script calculates the size adjustment rate per trial.
provided by Millisecond
The color of practice and test dots as well as sizes can be adjusted
under section Editable Parameters.
provided by Millisecond - can be edited under section 'Editable Instructions'
in script 'motorpraxistest_instructions_inc.iqjs'
File Name: motorpraxistest_summary*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| startDate | Date the session was run |
| startTime | Time the session was run |
| subjectId | Participant ID |
| groupId | Group number |
| sessionId | Session number |
| 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 |
| elapsedTime | Session duration in ms |
| completed | 0 = Test was not completed 1 = Test was completed |
| numberOfTrials | The set number of test trials to run |
| meanRT | The mean response latency (in ms) |
| sdRT | The standard deviation of the response latencies (in ms); measure of variability |
| medianRT | The median response latency (in ms) |
| speedDifferential | Difference of the response time (ms) to the first dot (largest and easiest to hit dot), R1, and the last dot (smallest and hardest to hit dot),RL, relative to R1 (R1-RL)/R1 |
File Name: motorpraxistest_raw*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| date | Date the session was run |
| time | Time the session was run |
| subject | Participant ID |
| group | Group number |
| session | Session number |
| 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 |
| 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) trial.searchEnd currently stores the summary of a target search. |
| 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. |
| response | The response of participant during current trial |
| latency | Response latency (in ms); measured from onset of dot |
Custom Variables |
|
| trialCounter | Counts the number of trials run |
| xPct | Horizontal coordinate of the current dot (in %) |
| yPct | Vertical coordinate of the current dot (in %) |
| stimSizeAdjust | The percentage height adjustments done per trial |
| stimHeightPct | The height of the current in %of active canvas |
| stimHeightMM | The height of the current in mm |
The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.
| Name | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
Design |
||
| numberOfTrials | Set the number of test trials to run the script calculates the adjustment rate based on those three variables (see expressions.stimSize_adjust) | 20 |
| numberOfPracticeTrials | Set the number of practice trials to run | 5 |
| stimColorPractice | The color of the practice dots | blue |
Color Parameter |
||
| canvasColor | Display color of the actively used portion of the screen (the 'canvas') if set to a color other than the screenColor, the active canvas appears 'anchored' on the screen regardless of monitor size | black |
| screenColor | Color of the screen not used by the canvas ('inactive screen') | black |
| defaultTextColor | Default color of text items presented on active canvas | white |
| stimColorTest | The color of the test dots | blue |
Sizing Parameters |
||
| startSizePct | Set the startSize (diameter) of the circle in percent (size during trial1) | 15% |
| endSizePct | Set the endSize of the circle in percent (size during last trial) | 3% |