Color Multi Source Interference Task Random Order - cMSIT

Technical Manual

Credits:
This 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: January 09, 2025 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond

Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC

Background

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).

References

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.

Duration

8 minutes

Description

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.

Procedure

- This script runs 150 trials (6 controls, 48 color congruent, 96 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 200ms
- accuracy feedback 500ms after response or stimulus timeout

Stimuli

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

instructions are provided by Mario Wenzel, Thomas Kubiak and Tamlin Conner
and can be edited under EDITABLE CODE -> Editable Instructions

Summary Data

File Name: msit_color_random_summary*.iqdat

Data Fields

NameDescription
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

Raw Data

File Name: msit_color_random_raw*.iqdat

Data Fields

NameDescription
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.
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)

Parameters

The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.

NameDescriptionDefault
stimPresentationDurationMS 2000: the duration (in ms) that the stims are presented (= response timeout)