Credits:
The original script was generously provided by Mario Wenzel, Thomas Kubiak and Tamlin Conner to be shared via Millisecond
Software's Script Library. Thank you!
Software's Script Library. Thank you!
Last Modified: May 05, 2026 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements a Color Multi Source Interference Task (cMSIT). The MSIT was originally designed by Bush et al (1998) as a behavioral fMRI task to assess the functional integrity of the acc subdivision in selected neuropsychiatric disorders. According to Bush et al the MSIT combines multiple dimensions of cognitive interference such as flanker, and Stroop interference.
The implemented procedure in this script with red/green stimuli and a random order of stimuli is similar to the procedure described Wenzel et al (2013).
Wenzel, M., Kubiak, T., & Conner, T. S. (2013). Positive affect and self-control: Attention to self-control demands mediates the influence of positive affect on consecutive self-control. Cognition and Emotion. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2013.851069
Original MSIT: Bush, G., Shin, L.M., Holmes, J., Rosen, B.R., & Vogt, B.A. (2003). The Multi-Source Interference Task: Validation study with fMRI in individual subjects. Molecular Psychiatry, 8, 60–70.
8 minutes
Participants are presented stimuli consisting of 3 digits (1, 2, 3s) (or 1 digit and 2 X's = controls), e.g. 221 Two of the digits are the same digit (=distractors, e.g. 22) but one is different (= Target, 1). The target also differs in size (either smaller or bigger) from the distractors. In addition, one of the digits (distractors or target) has a different color. If the target is different in color the trial is COLOR congruent. If one of the distractors is different in color the trial is COLOR INcongruent. Participants are asked to press a response button (1, 2, 3) as fast as possible to report which digit was the target.
- This script runs 96 trials (48 control trials, 24 color congruent and 24 color incongruent) in a random order.
- response buttons: 1, 2, 3 on keyboard and/or numeric pad
Trial Sequence:
- fixation cross for 500ms
- stimulus presented for 2000ms
- accuracy feedback 500ms after response or stimulus timeout
all stimuli are provided by Mario Wenzel, Thomas Kubiak and Tamlin Conner
control (target always printed larger and different in color; target position always congruent with response button position): 6
=> 2 color x 1 possible target fontsize x 1 possible identity of flanking letters x 3 target digits x 1 possible positions of target digit x 1 possible position of colored digit
color congruent (target differs in color; NO congruence of target position with response button position): 48
=> 2 colors x 2 possible target fontsizes x 2 possible identities of flanking numbers x 3 target digits x 2 possible positions of target digit x 1 possible position of colored digit
color incongruent (target does NOT differ in color; NO congruence of target position with response button position): 96
=> 2 colors x 2 fontsizes x 2 identities of flanking numbers x 3 target digits x 2 possible positions of target digit x 2 possible positions of colored digit
instructions are provided by Mario Wenzel, Thomas Kubiak and Tamlin Conner
and can be edited under EDITABLE CODE -> Editable Instructions
File Name: msit_color_random_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 |
| propCorrect | Proportion correct overall |
| meanRT | Mean latency (in ms) of all correct responses |
| std | Standard deviation of all correct latencies |
| medianRT | Median latency (in ms) of all correct responses |
Msit Effect |
|
| propCorrectControl | Proportion correct responses in control trials |
| propCorrectMulti | Proportion correct responses in multi trials |
| msitEffectAcc | The difference between control and multi interference trial performance MSIT effect = propCorrectControl - propCorrectMulti (positive: control trials had higher proportion correct) |
| meanCorrRTControl | Mean correct response time (in ms) in control trials |
| meanCorrRTMulti | Mean correct response time (in ms) in multi trials |
| msitEffectRT | The difference between control and multi trial correct latencies MSIT effect = meanCorrRTMulti - meanCorrRTControl (positive: control trials were faster) |
Attention Effect |
|
| propCorrectCongruent | Proportion correct responses in (multi) congruent trials |
| propCorrectIncongruent | Proportion correct responses in (multi) incongruent trials |
| attentionEffectAcc | Difference congruent - incongruent => positive: better performance on congruent trials |
| meanCorrRTCongruent | Mean correct response time (in ms) in (multi) congruent trials |
| meanCorrRTIncongruent | Mean correct response time (in ms) in (multi) incongruent trials |
| attentionEffectRT | Difference incongruent - congruent => positive: faster performance on congruent trials (longer RTs on incongruent trials) |
File Name: msit_color_random_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. |
| trialCounter | Tracks the number of trials run |
| interferenceSource | "multi" vs "control" |
| colorCongruency | Congruent = target digit is the one different in color control congruent = control target, target digit is the one different in color incongruent = target digit is NOT the one different in color |
| corrResp | Correct response key |
| stimulusItem.1-stimulusItem.2 | The presented stimuli in order of trial presentation |
| response | The participant's response (scancode of response key) 2,79 => 1 3, 80 => 2 4, 81 => 3 |
| responseText | "1", "2", "3" (the pressed response key) |
| correct | The correctness of the response (1 = correct; 0 = otherwise) |
| latency | The response latency (measured from onset of stimulus, in ms) |
The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.
| Name | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
Timing Parameters |
||
| readyDuration | The duration (in ms) of the get-ready-trial | 5000 |
| fixationDuration | The duration (in ms) of the fixation stim | 500 |
| stimPresentationDurationMS | The duration (in ms) that the stims are presented (= response timeout) | 2000 |
| feedbackDuration | The duration (in ms) of the feedback stim | 500 |