Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond (backward task)
Script uses in large part the code of the Forward Corsi Block Tapping Task written by David Nitz (dave@millisecond.com)
Last Modified: January 30, 2025 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements the Backward Corsi Block Tapping Task; a measure of spatial working memory.
Note on Abolute Sizing: The current script allows to run the Corsi Block Tapping Task with absolute stimulus sizing to ensure that the size of the Corsi blocks (with a target box size ~3cm) as well as their distances are constant across monitors. Absolute Sizing can be easily accomplished by setting the canvasSize to absolute measurements. Go to section Defaults for more information. Note that the default setup of this script uses proportional sizing.
The implemented procedure is described in Kessels et al (2008).
The script builds on the original Inquisit Corsi Block Tapping Task that implements the (forward) Corsi Block Tapping Task as described in Kessels et al (2000) and Corsi (1972).
Kessels, R.P.C., van den Berg, E., Ruis, C., & Brands, A.M. A. (2008). "The Backward Span of the Corsi Block-Tapping Task and Its Association With the WAIS-III Digit Span". Assessment, 15, 426+34.
Kessels, R.P.C., van Zandvoort, M.J.E., Postma, A., Kappelle, L.J., & de Haan, E.H.F. (2000). The Corsi block-tapping task: Standardization and normative data. Applied Neuropsychology, 7(4), 252-258.
Corsi, P. M. (1972). Human memory and the medial temporal region of the brain. Dissertation Abstracts International, 34, 819B.
5 minutes
Participants are presented with a screen of 9 boxes. The boxes light up in a pre-fixed sequence (constant across participants) and participants are asked to click on the boxes in the REVERSED order. The sequence length starts at level = 2 boxes and can increase to up to level 8. Participants get 2 chances at each sequence length. If one of the sequences was entered correctly (that is in reversed fashion), the next sequence starts.
• predetermined sequence of boxes (see section Editable Lists)
• start level N=2 up to level 8
• 2 chances per level
The current script runs the task with proportional sizing.
Go to section Editable Parameters and section Defaults for more information how
to change to absolute sizing instead.
can be edited in script corsiblocktappingtask_backwards.iqjs (contains language specific instructions)
File Name: corsiblocktappingtask_backwards_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 |
| nCorrectTotal | Total number of correctly recalled sequences across the whole task. for the backward Corsi with levels 2-8, the max number of correctly recalled sequences = 14 |
| blockSpan | The achieved Block Span. Equals the length of the last correctly recalled sequence. |
| totalScore | Summary score proposed by Kessels et al. (2000). Computed as 'values.blockSpan' * 'values.ncorrecttotal'. |
File Name: corsiblocktappingtask_backwards_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 |
| 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) |
| 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. |
| seqNumber | The ordinal index number of the current block sequence. A maximum of 14 sequences are given in ascending order. |
| seqLength | Length of the current block sequence. |
| seqString | The current sequence (stored forward) |
| seqStringBackwards | The current sequence (stored backwards). |
| respString | The sequence entered by the participant (resets for each new sequence) |
| response | The response of the participant in a given trial |
| correct | '1' if the current sequence was recalled correctly. '0' if the participant made a mistake. |
| latency | The latency of the response (in ms) |
| nCorrectInBlock | Holds the number of correctly recalled sequences in the current block. Sequences are given in blocks of two. The task stops as soon as the participant fails to recall two sequences of equal length. |
| nCorrectTotal | Total number of correctly recalled sequences across the whole task. for the backward Corsi with levels 2-8, the max number of correctly recalled sequences = 14 |
| blockSpan | The achieved Block Span. Equals the length of the last correctly recalled sequence. |
| totalScore | Summary score proposed by Kessels et al. (2000). Computed as 'values.blockSpan' * 'values.ncorrecttotal'. |
The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.
| Name | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
Color Parameter |
||
| blockColor | Display color for blocks in unhighlighted state. | blue |
| tapColor | Display color for currently highlighted ('tapped') blocks. | yellow |
| boardColor | Display color for the virtual game board. | black |
| boardFrameColor | Frame color of the virtual game board (if presented, see parameters.hideCanvasFrame) | white |
| screenColor | Color of the screen not used by the board | black |
| defaultTextColor | Default color of textitems | white |
| blockSize | Size of blocks in % of canvassize. if you set the canvasSize under section Defaults to 145mm, the blocksizes will be ~3cm on all monitors | 20% |
Timing Parameters (In Ms) |
||
| tapInterval | Interval between 'taps' in ms. Default is '1000'. | 1000 |
| postTapInterval | Time between erasing a previously highlighted block and highlighting the next one in ms. | 250 |
| feedbackDuration | Duration of performance feedback after recalling a sequence. | 1000 |
Feedback Parameters |
||
| showFeedback | 'true' -> show performance feedback after each completed sequence. 'false' -> don't show performance feedback after each completed sequence. | true |
| showScores | 'true' -> show score summary at the end of the procedure. 'false' -> don't show score summary at the end of the procedure. | true |