Last Modified: January 12, 2026 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements the Balloon Emotional Learning Task (BELT), a measure of sensitivity to negative feedback and associative learning. The BELT is an extension of the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART, Lejuez et al, 2002).
Humphreys, K. L., Telzer, E. H., Flannery, J., Goff, B., Gabard-Durnam, L., Gee, D. G., Lee, S. S., & Tottenham, N. (2016). Risky Decision Making From Childhood Through Adulthood: Contributions of Learning and Sensitivity to Negative Feedback. Emotion (Washington, D.C.), 16(1), 101–109. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000116
Lejuez, C. W., Read, J. P., Kahler, C. W., Richards, J.B., Ramsey, S. E., Stuart, G. L., et al. (2002). Evaluation of a behavioral measure of risk-taking: The Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 8, 75–84.
7 minutes
Participants are given 27 (default) balloons. For each balloon they get the choice to pump up the balloon or collect their winnings. For each successful pump, they can earn money. However, if a balloon pops before participants collect their potential winnings, they lose all their potential winnings for the current balloon. Balloons have three different colors in the BELT paradigm (currently: red, orange, magenta). Each color is associated with different explosion points: slow (takes longer to explode), variable (mixed), and quick (explodes quickly).
The colors for each of these three balloon types can either be a) randomly assigned by this script (see editable parameters) or b) counterbalanced by using groupnumbers 1-6
• 27 ballons to pump up
-> phase1: 9 balloons (3 of each type, all three variable explosion points run)
-> phase2: 9 balloons (3 of each type, all three variable explosion points run)
-> phase3: 9 balloons (3 of each type, all three variable explosion points run)
• each (successful) pump increases the possible winnings gained from this balloon
Determination of Explosionpoints: fixed by balloon type (quick, variable, slow)
-> check list.quickExplosionPoint/list.variableExplostionPoint/list.slowExplosionPoint
• participant can decide whether to "collect" the winnings or keep pumping to increase the
reward further. Participants are told that each balloon will explode at some point and that in the
case of an exploding balloon no money will be won from the popped balloon. Further, participants are alerted to
the fact that balloons may pop at different times.
•after 27 balloons have been pumped, the experiment is over, and participants can collect their total winnings
Instructions can be easily edited in script belt.iqjs (or language specific version)
File Name: belt_summary*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| quickExplodeIndex | The item index of the image assigned to be the Quick Explode Balloon |
| quickExplodeColor | The color of the Quick Explode Balloon |
| variableExplodeIndex | The item index of the image assigned to be the Variable Explode Balloon |
| variableExplodeColor | The color of the Variable Explode Balloon |
| slowExplodeIndex | The item index of the image assigned to be the Slow Explode Balloon |
| slowExplodeColor | The color of the Slow Explode Balloon |
| totalEarnings | Sums up the earnings across balloons |
| balloonCount | Running total of number of balloons |
| balloonCount1 | Separate measures for number of balloons for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| balloonCount2 | Separate measures for number of balloons for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| balloonCount3 | Separate measures for number of balloons for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| totalExplosions | The number of exploded balloons |
| totalExplosions1 | Separate measures for the number of totalExplosions for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| totalExplosions2 | Separate measures for the number of totalExplosions for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| totalExplosions3 | Separate measures for the number of totalExplosions for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| nonExplodedBalloons | The number of balloons out of (default) 27 that did NOT explode |
| nonExplodedBalloons1 | Separate measures for the number of nonExplodedBalloons for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| nonExplodedBalloons2 | Separate measures for the number of nonExplodedBalloons for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| nonExplodedBalloons3 | Separate measures for the number of nonExplodedBalloons for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| totalPumpCount | Total number of times the participant presses the pump button across all balloons (includes exploded balloons) |
| totalPumpCount1 | Separate measures for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| totalPumpCount2 | Separate measures for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| totalPumpCount3 | Separate measures for tthe last third (trials 19-27) |
| averagePumpCount | The mean average pump count (includes exploded balloons) |
| averagePumpCount1 | Separate measures for the mean average pump count for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| averagePumpCount2 | Separate measures for the mean average pump count for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| averagePumpCount3 | Separate measures for the mean average pump count for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| adjustedTotalPumpCount | Sums up the pumps of balloons that did not explode |
| adjustedTotalPumpCount1 | Separate measures for the pumps of balloons that did not explode for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| adjustedTotalPumpCount2 | Separate measures for the pumps of balloons that did not explode for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| adjustedTotalPumpCount3 | Separate measures for the pumps of balloons that did not explode for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| adjustedAveragePumpCount | Mean number of pumps only of balloons that did not explode (=Main Dependent Variable) the lower the number the more risk averse the participant |
| adjustedAveragePumpCount1 | Separate measures for pumps only of balloons that did not explode for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| adjustedAveragePumpCount2 | Separate measures for pumps only of balloons that did not explode for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| adjustedAveragePumpCount3 | Separate measures for pumps only of balloons that did not explode for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| postExplosionAdjustmentScore | Measures sensitivity to punishment/loss Difference in the mean number of pumps after successful collection - mean number of pumps after explosions => positive: trials after explosions had on average lower pump counts (sensitive to punishment) => negative: trials after explosions had on average higher pump counts (sensitive to losses) |
| postExplosionAdjustmentScoreP1 | Separate measures for the first third (phase1) |
| postExplosionAdjustmentScoreP2 | Separate measures for the second third (phase2) |
| postExplosionAdjustmentScoreP3 | Separate measures for the last third (phase3) |
Slow Explosion Point Summary Variables |
|
| totalEarningsS | Total earnings from SLOW explosion point balloons |
| balloonCountS | Running total of number of SLOW explosion point balloons |
| balloonCount1S | Separate measures for number of SLOW explosion point balloons for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| balloonCount2S | Separate measures for number of SLOW explosion point balloons for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| balloonCount3S | Separate measures for number of SLOW explosion point balloons for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| totalExplosionsS | The number of exploded balloons of SLOW explosion point balloons |
| totalExplosions1S | Separate measures for the number of totalExplosions for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| totalExplosions2S | Separate measures for the number of totalExplosions for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| totalExplosions3S | Separate measures for the number of totalExplosions for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| nonExplodedBalloonsS | The number of SLOW explosion point balloons out of (default) 9 that did NOT explode |
| nonExplodedBalloons1S | Separate measures for the number of nonExplodedBalloons for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| nonExplodedBalloons2S | Separate measures for the number of nonExplodedBalloons for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| nonExplodedBalloons3S | Separate measures for the number of nonExplodedBalloons for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| totalPumpCountS | Total number of times the participant presses the pump button across all SLOW explosion point balloons (includes exploded balloons) |
| totalPumpCount1S | Separate measures for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| totalPumpCount2S | Separate measures for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| totalPumpCount3S | Separate measures for tthe last third (trials 19-27) |
| averagePumpCountS | The mean average pump count for SLOW explosion point balloons (includes exploded balloons) |
| averagePumpCount1S | Separate measures for the mean average pump count for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| averagePumpCount2S | Separate measures for the mean average pump count for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| averagePumpCount3S | Separate measures for the mean average pump count for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| adjustedTotalPumpCountS | Sums up the pumps of SLOW explosion point balloons that did not explode |
| adjustedTotalPumpCount1S | Separate measures for the pumps of balloons that did not explode for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| adjustedTotalPumpCount2S | Separate measures for the pumps of balloons that did not explode for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| adjustedTotalPumpCount3S | Separate measures for the pumps of balloons that did not explode for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| adjustedAveragePumpCountS | Mean number of pumps only of SLOW explosion point balloons that did not explode (=Main Dependent Variable) the lower the number the more risk averse the participant |
| adjustedAveragePumpCount1S | Separate measures for pumps only of balloons that did not explode for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| adjustedAveragePumpCount2S | Separate measures for pumps only of balloons that did not explode for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| adjustedAveragePumpCount3S | Separate measures for pumps only of balloons that did not explode for the last third (trials 19-27) |
Variable Explosion Point Summary Variables |
|
| totalEarningsS | Total earnings from VARIABLE explosion point balloons |
| balloonCountS | Running total of number of VARIABLE explosion point balloons |
| balloonCount1S | Separate measures for number of VARIABLE explosion point balloons for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| balloonCount2S | Separate measures for number of VARIABLE explosion point balloons for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| balloonCount3S | Separate measures for number of VARIABLE explosion point balloons for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| totalExplosionsS | The number of exploded balloons of VARIABLE explosion point balloons |
| totalExplosions1S | Separate measures for the number of totalExplosions for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| totalExplosions2S | Separate measures for the number of totalExplosions for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| totalExplosions3S | Separate measures for the number of totalExplosions for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| nonExplodedBalloonsS | The number of VARIABLE explosion point balloons out of (default) 9 that did NOT explode |
| nonExplodedBalloons1S | Separate measures for the number of nonExplodedBalloons for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| nonExplodedBalloons2S | Separate measures for the number of nonExplodedBalloons for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| nonExplodedBalloons3S | Separate measures for the number of nonExplodedBalloons for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| totalPumpCountS | Total number of times the participant presses the pump button across all VARIABLE explosion point balloons (includes exploded balloons) |
| totalPumpCount1S | Separate measures for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| totalPumpCount2S | Separate measures for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| totalPumpCount3S | Separate measures for tthe last third (trials 19-27) |
| averagePumpCountS | The mean average pump count for VARIABLE explosion point balloons (includes exploded balloons) |
| averagePumpCount1S | Separate measures for the mean average pump count for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| averagePumpCount2S | Separate measures for the mean average pump count for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| averagePumpCount3S | Separate measures for the mean average pump count for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| adjustedTotalPumpCountS | Sums up the pumps of VARIABLE explosion point balloons that did not explode |
| adjustedTotalPumpCount1S | Separate measures for the pumps of balloons that did not explode for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| adjustedTotalPumpCount2S | Separate measures for the pumps of balloons that did not explode for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| adjustedTotalPumpCount3S | Separate measures for the pumps of balloons that did not explode for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| adjustedAveragePumpCountS | Mean number of pumps only of VARIABLE explosion point balloons that did not explode (=Main Dependent Variable) the lower the number the more risk averse the participant |
| adjustedAveragePumpCount1S | Separate measures for pumps only of balloons that did not explode for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| adjustedAveragePumpCount2S | Separate measures for pumps only of balloons that did not explode for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| adjustedAveragePumpCount3S | Separate measures for pumps only of balloons that did not explode for the last third (trials 19-27) |
Quick Explosion Point Summary Variables |
|
| totalEarningsS | Total earnings from QUICK explosion point balloons |
| balloonCountS | Running total of number of QUICK explosion point balloons |
| balloonCount1S | Separate measures for number of QUICK explosion point balloons for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| balloonCount2S | Separate measures for number of QUICK explosion point balloons for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| balloonCount3S | Separate measures for number of QUICK explosion point balloons for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| totalExplosionsS | The number of exploded balloons of QUICK explosion point balloons |
| totalExplosions1S | Separate measures for the number of totalExplosions for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| totalExplosions2S | Separate measures for the number of totalExplosions for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| totalExplosions3S | Separate measures for the number of totalExplosions for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| nonExplodedBalloonsS | The number of QUICK explosion point balloons out of (default) 9 that did NOT explode |
| nonExplodedBalloons1S | Separate measures for the number of nonExplodedBalloons for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| nonExplodedBalloons2S | Separate measures for the number of nonExplodedBalloons for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| nonExplodedBalloons3S | Separate measures for the number of nonExplodedBalloons for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| totalPumpCountS | Total number of times the participant presses the pump button across all QUICK explosion point balloons (includes exploded balloons) |
| totalPumpCount1S | Separate measures for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| totalPumpCount2S | Separate measures for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| totalPumpCount3S | Separate measures for tthe last third (trials 19-27) |
| averagePumpCountS | The mean average pump count for QUICK explosion point balloons (includes exploded balloons) |
| averagePumpCount1S | Separate measures for the mean average pump count for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| averagePumpCount2S | Separate measures for the mean average pump count for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| averagePumpCount3S | Separate measures for the mean average pump count for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| adjustedTotalPumpCountS | Sums up the pumps of QUICK explosion point balloons that did not explode |
| adjustedTotalPumpCount1S | Separate measures for the pumps of balloons that did not explode for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| adjustedTotalPumpCount2S | Separate measures for the pumps of balloons that did not explode for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| adjustedTotalPumpCount3S | Separate measures for the pumps of balloons that did not explode for the last third (trials 19-27) |
| adjustedAveragePumpCountS | Mean number of pumps only of QUICK explosion point balloons that did not explode (=Main Dependent QUICK) the lower the number the more risk averse the participant |
| adjustedAveragePumpCount1S | Separate measures for pumps only of balloons that did not explode for the first third (trials 1-9) |
| adjustedAveragePumpCount2S | Separate measures for pumps only of balloons that did not explode for the second third (trials 10-18) |
| adjustedAveragePumpCount3S | Separate measures for pumps only of balloons that did not explode for the last third (trials 19-27) |
File Name: belt_raw*.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| date | Date the session was run |
| time | Time the session was run |
| subject | Participant ID |
| group | Group number |
| session | Session number |
| quickExplodeIndex | The item index of the image assigned to be the Quick Explode Balloon |
| quickExplodeColor | The color of the Quick Explode Balloon |
| variableExplodeIndex | The item index of the image assigned to be the Variable Explode Balloon |
| variableExplodeColor | The color of the Variable Explode Balloon |
| slowExplodeIndex | The item index of the image assigned to be the Slow Explode Balloon |
| slowExplodeColor | The color of the Slow Explode Balloon |
| trialcode | The name of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable) |
| 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. |
| phase | 1 = first block of 9 trials (first third) 2 = second block of 9 trials (second third) 3 = third block of 9 trials (third third) |
| balloonCount | Running total of number of balloons |
| balloonType | 1 = slow exploding balloon 2 = variable exploding balloon 3 = fast exploding balloon |
| balloonColor | Color of the current balloon |
| balloonIndex | Index of the current balloon |
| explosionPoint | Explosion point of the current balloon |
| response | The participant's response |
| latency | The response latency (in ms) |
| pumpCount | Number of times the participant presses the pump button for each balloon (resets for each balloon) |
| pumpResult | The selected digit from list.pumpResult (1 = balloon explodes) |
| totalEarnings | Currently earned reward up to this point |
| timeBefore1stPump | Time (in ms) before 1.pump |
| timeBeforeCollectWithoutPump | Time (in ms) before collecting without pumping first |
| timeBtwLastPumpAndCollect | Time (in ms) btw. last pump and collect |
| timeBtwPumps | Time (in ms) between pumps (excluding time before first pump) |
| meanTimeBtwPumps | Mean time between pumps for each balloon |
The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.
| Name | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| totalBalloons | Number of balloons: Default is 27 | 27 |
| pumpValue | Payoff per pump: Default is $0.05 | 0.05 |
| balloonSizeIncrement | Ballon size increment in scale proportion to the original image | 0.01 |
| showPumpCount | Show current pump count true: pump count is shown to participant (default) false: pump count is not shown to participant | true |
| showBalloonCount | Show current balloon count true: ballon count is shown to participant (default) false: ballon count is not shown to participant | true |
| showPotentialEarnings | Show potential earnings for the current balloon | false |
| assignColorsAtRandom | True = the script assigns the colors of the 'slow', 'variable', 'quick' explosion point balloons at random false = the script does not randomly assign the colors. Use groupnumbers 1-6 to counterbalance all possible six color assignments | false |