Millisecond Box Task

Background

The Box Task is a cognitive assessment of visuo-spatial memory. Participants are given several 'boxes' (2-10) that hide objects that need to be found one-by-one. Participants are told which specific object to look for next (e.g. a soda can). During a search all boxes are closed, and boxes reveal their objects only for current and previous targets. Otherwise, they appear empty. Once the current target is found, the participant is given the next target to look for. Previous targets stay in their objects throughout the search; thus new objects can only be located in one of the previously 'empty' ones. The goal of the search is to open as few boxes as possible to find the next target (thus, boxes with known objects need to be avoided).

The Box Task was released by Roy Kessels and Albert Potsma in 2018 as a as a free research tool for non-commercial research. It was originally written in Microsoft Visual Basic to run on Windows machines. The Millisecond implementation of the Box Task is based on its published description and runs on Windows, Macs, Androids and Ios and can be run in person or remotely. It thus expands the number of devices/platforms the 'Box' Task can be run on. As the original 'Box Task', the Millisecond implementation provides stimuli and a default setup and allows for some customization of the task via parameter settings.

Task Procedure

The Millisecond Box Task can be run with random or fixed box locations. By default, each implementation runs one practice block with three boxes and two example searches. The test phase runs three set sizes (4,6,8) with two search sequences each in order. For each new search sequence, participants are provided the current search target at the bottom of the screen as well as a search field that presents the (closed) boxes. Boxes open when clicked or touched. Once a target is found, the next search target is revealed.

What it Measures

The Box Task measures visuo-spatial memory

Psychological domains

• Episodic Memory: Ability to encode and recall a specific event in time and space
• Visuospatial Memory: Ability to process, retain, and manipulate visual imagery and spatial layouts within the mind's eye.
• Associative Binding: Memory sub-process that links two unrelated pieces of information into a unified mental representation
• Selective and Sustained Attention: Ability to maintain focus during the encoding (reveal) phase

Main Performance Metrics

• Search Accuracy: Script tracks the number of times participants make no errors in locating objects (separate measures for each set size)
• Within Errors: Script tracks the number of times participants open empty, but already rejected boxes per set size
• Between Errors: Script tracks the number of times participants open already 'revealed' object boxes per set size

Psychiatric Conditions

The Box Task has been used with the following clinical populations

• Dementia
• Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
• Korsakoff's Syndrome
• Stroke

References

Search Google Scholar for peer-reviewed, published research using the Inquisit Millisecond Box Task.

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Kessels, RPC, Postma A. (2018). The Box Task: A tool to design experiments for assessing visuospatial working memory. Behav Res Methods. Oct;50(5):1981-1987. doi: 10.3758/s13428-017-0966-7. PMID: 28916951.

Oudman, E., Schut, M. J., Ten Brink, A. F., Postma, A., & Van der Stigchel, S. (2020). Visual working memory capacity in Korsakoff’s amnesia. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 42(4), 363–370. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2020.1722800

Foxe, D. ., Irish, M., D’Mello, M., Barhon, L., Burrell, J. ., Kessels, R. P. ., & Piguet, O. (2021). The Box Task: A novel tool to differentiate the primary progressive aphasias. European Journal of Neurology, 28(12), 3945–3954. https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.15035

Rodríguez, M. F., Ramirez Butavand, D., Cifuentes, M. V., Bekinschtein, P., Ballarini, F., & García Bauza, C. (2022). A virtual reality platform for memory evaluation: Assessing effects of spatial strategies. Behavior Research Methods, 54(6), 2707–2719. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-021-01758-4