Emotional Adaptive Dual N-back Task

Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond

Last Modified: January 07, 2025 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond

Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC

Background

This Inquisit script provides trials and instructions for adaptive DUAL n-back tasks with words and paired images that appear in 16 different screen locations (see Schweitzer et al, 2013).

This script is uses the Inquisit framework of the dual n-back script that follows the procedure for adaptive dual nback tasks provided by Jaeggi et al (2010). This script provides code to run N=1 to infinite levels of N.

References

Jaeggi S.M, Studer-Luethi, B., Buschkuehl, M, Su, Y.-F., Jonides, J., Perrig, W.J. (2010). The relationship between n-back performance and matrix reasoning - implications for training and transfer. Intelligence, 38, 625-635.

Schweizer,S., Grahn,G., Hampshire,A., Mobbs,D. and Dalgleish, T. (2013). Training the Emotional Brain: Improving Affective Control through Emotional Working Memory Training. The Journal of Neuroscience, 33(12):5301–5311

Duration

20 minutes

Description

In dual n-back tasks, participants are presented with two sequences of stimuli in two modalities at the same time Here: a) VISUAL: a random sequence of images (paired with auditory words) that can be presented in 16 different locations on the screen and b) AUDITORY: a random sequence of 20 spoken words In each trial one visual and one auditory stimulus are presented and participants are asked to indicate whether the currently presented stimuli fulfill the following criteria:

For N=1 trials: - is the location of the image the same as the one in the previous trial? If so (it's a target), and press "A". If not, don't press "A".

- is the word the same as the one in the previous trial? If so (it's a target), and press "L". If not, don't press "L".

For N=2 trials: - is the location of the image the same as the one two trials before? If so (it's a target), and press "A". If not, don't press "A". - is the word the same as the one two trials before? If so (it's a target), and press "L". If not, don't press "L".

Etc.

Procedure

(1) Dual n-back Experiment (adaptive) information:
- participants start out at level N = 1 and depending on performance, move up or stay on level N = 1

N increase: 3+ consecutive trials correct
N decrease: 5+ consecutive trials incorrect

"if 3+ consecutive trials were completed accurately,
the level of n-back increased by one on the next block. Conversely, if five
or more successive trials were completed inaccurately, the level of n-back
decreased by 1 on the next block." (Schweitzer et al, 2013, p.5303)

( if both events occur in one trial, the N stays effectively the same in this script)

- After a total of 20 blocks, the experiment ends

(2) Dual n-back BLOCK information:
- Each dual n-task block consists of 20 + trials.
=> + trials are the N trials that cannot display target shapes yet (=start trials). Their numbers vary depending on N. The data collected during these
start trials are NOT included in performance counts for Correct Rejections/False Alarms.
=> Of the actual 20 experimental trials, 4 present a visual target only, 4 present an auditory target only, 2 present both targets
and 10 present no targets at all
- The computer selects randomly
a) which kind of trial
b) what word/ image location to use if it is not a target

(3) Dual n-back TRIAL information:
- Each trial presents the image/word for 500ms and waits another 2500ms before ending the trial.
Another 500ms are reserved for auditory feedback before the next image/word in the sequence are presented.
- Participants have 3000ms to respond by pressing "A", "L", or both if they detect a target or two.

Stimuli

Visual Stimuli:
- 20 example stimuli taken from NIMSTIM (2 female sets with 5 images, 2 male sets with 5 images)
The images can easily be exchanged under: item.images under section EDITABLE STIMULI

each block randomly selects 1 female and 1 male set (10 stimuli total per block)
(across the 20 blocks each set is run equally often)

Auditory Stimuli:
- this script uses 10 auditory stimuli (10 negative adjectives recorded by a female American native speaker)
The stimuli can be exchanged under: item.audiowords under section EDITABLE STIMULI

Instructions

The instructions are not original to Schweizer et al (2013). They are based on the instructions used for
Adaptive Dual n-back task by Jaeggi et al (2010).

The instructions are presented by using Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) images.
Check section EDITABLE INSTRUCTIONS for more information.

Summary Data

File Name: emotionaladaptivedualnback_summary*.iqdat

Data Fields

Raw Data

File Name: emotionaladaptivedualnback_raw.iqdat

Data Fields

Parameters

The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.