Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Created: January 06, 2020
Last Modified: January 12, 2025 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements a template for a progressive ratio button press task to investigate approach-avoidance behavior towards different stimulus categories. This template script implements the following four categories as example categories: 1) Alcohol Bottle Images 2) Soda Bottle Images 3) Scrambled Alcohol Bottle Images 4) Scrambled Soda Bottle Images
The implemented procedure is based on: Ferrey, A. E., Frischen, A., & Fenske,M. J. (2012). Hot or not: Response inhibition reduces the hedonic value and motivational incentive of sexual stimuli. Frontiers in Psychology, 3, 1–7.
8 minutes
Participants get the choice to view one image of four different categories (here: alcohol bottles, soda bottles, scrambled alcohol bottles, scrambled soda bottles). In order to view the image they have to press the assigned response key for the category of choice. The number of key presses required to view an image a particular category doubles each time the participant selects to view an image of that specific category.
8 rounds: each round presents 10 images
- each round randomly assigns the response buttons 1-4 to the four categories
- the required counts for each category are reset (each category starts with 1 button press)
Trial Sequence:
StartTrial
- the button press counts are reset for each category back to 0
CategorySelection:
-participants press key 1-4 to make a selection
=> the script keeps a count of all button presses for each category
=> after each button press the script compares the number of button presses made to the number
of button presses required to present the image of a category
=> if the required number has been reached, the image presentation trial is called;
Otherwise the categorySelection trial is repeated.
Image Presentation:
- the selected image is presented for 1s (editable parameter)
- the required counts for the currently selected category are doubled
this script only provides 10 images per category. Thus each round uses the same 10 images for
each category. To ensure that no image is ever repeated, each category requires 80 images.
Add the needed images under 'Editable Stimuli' and follow further instructions provided.
provided by Millisecond - the provided images are only demonstration images.
They can be edited under section Editable Stimuli
provided by Millisecond - can be edited
in script "progressiveratio_instructions_inc.iqjs"
File Name: progressiveratio_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 |
| category1TotalPresses | Sums up all key presses for category1 across all rounds |
| category1CountImages | The number of category1 images presented across all rounds (same for category2-4) |
File Name: progressiveratio_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 |
| roundCount | The round counter |
| countImagesRound | Counts the number of images presented during the current round |
| category1ResponseButton | The assigned key (1-4) for category1 during the current round |
| category2ResponseButton | The assigned key (1-4) for category2 during the current round |
| category3ResponseButton | The assigned key (1-4) for category3 during the current round |
| category4ResponseButton | The assigned key (1-4) for category4 during the current round |
| presentedStim | The presented image |
| response | Scancode of selected response button !Note scancode 2 => button 1 was pressed scancode 3 => button 2 was pressed scancode 4 => button 3 was pressed scancode 5 => button 4 was pressed 57 = spacebar |
| latency | Response time (in ms); measured from onset of trial |
| selectedCategory | Stores the selected category 1 => here: alcohol bottles 2 => here: soda bottles 3 => here: scrambled alcohol bottles 4 => here: scrambled soda bottles |
| category1CountPresses | The number of key presses for category1 during the current round |
| category1CurrentThreshold | The number of key presses required to view image of category1 during the current round |
| category1TotalPresses | Sums up all key presses for category1 across all rounds |
| category1CountImages | The number of category1 images presented across all rounds (same for category2-4) |
The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.
| Name | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| imageSize | Proportional sizing of images | 50% |
| imageDuration | Duration (in ms) of presented image | 1000 |
| category1InitialThreshold | The number of button presses that need to me made to view an image of category1 for the first time | 1 |
| category2InitialThreshold | The number of button presses that need to me made to view an image of category2 for the first time | 1 |
| category3InitialThreshold | The number of button presses that need to me made to view an image of category3 for the first time | 1 |
| category4InitialThreshold | The number of button presses that need to me made to view an image of category4 for the first time | 1 |
| category1Increase | The progressive ratio increase for button presses to view images of category1 | 2 |
| category2Increase | The progressive ratio increase for button presses to view images of category2 | 2 |
| category3Increase | The progressive ratio increase for button presses to view images of category3 | 2 |
| category4Increase | The progressive ratio increase for button presses to view images of category4 | 2 |