Visual Tracking & Recall Task Specs

 

In this experiment, subjects perform two basic tasks alone and then the two tasks are combined together. There will be 3 experimental blocks and each block will be presented twice.

 

There are 2 Basic Tasks: 

1. A Recall Task: Word list presented on the screen and then recall aloud the set of words.

2. Visual Tracking Task:  Cartesian to polar coordinate task where Ps have to start at one point and end at another point on the screen.

 

Recall Task:

Present word list with one word on the screen at a time every 4 seconds. Words should be presented in a random order. Place 3-digit number (e.g. 282) in the center of the screen. The number should be in 24 point font. Leave number on the screen for 45 seconds. Subjects will count backwards by 3s into the microphone. After number disappears from screen, play “beep” sound (which triggers open a sound recorder). At this point, subjects will say aloud the words into a microphone.  Responses will be recorded for 60 sec and sound recorder can be closed after the time has elapsed.

 

We will need a sound recorder that will enable us to discern what was said by the participant as well as keep track of recording time. There are several options (e.g., audacity or cool edit pro) that might work.

 

Visual Tracking Task:

The visual task maps Cartesian mouse moves to polar coordinates on the screen. A colored point on the screen indicates the starting point and another colored point indicates the end point. The goal is for the participant to figure out the shortest path to the end point. The points should be different colors.

 

The participants’ screen should have the two points on the screen. The mouse pointer should be hidden or camouflaged such that the participant cannot see the pointer on the screen. Also, the path from the two points should be invisible on the screen. There will be a specific amount of time to complete the task (see trial information below for specific times). If the end point is reached before the time for the task, place a new start and end point on the screen. Start and end points should be randomly placed on the screen.

 

We need to have the program recreate the path from the start to end point. A black line in the foreground should show the path. Under this line, are red disks indicating points on the path where pauses took place. The size of the red disk should increase as the pause time increases.

 

We will need to have millisecond timing indicating the location of the mouse on the screen. The data will record the X, Y position and RT.

 

Experiment:

On first screen collect subject ID# and condition. Provide General Instructions screen (see attached instructions for General Instructions to Subject).

 

Practice/Warm-up Trials

First, the recall and visual task will be performed alone.

 

Recall Practice. Present recall instructions (see attached instructions file)

Present  recall task as described above (use ListPrac for the word list)

 

Visual Practice. Present visual task instructions (see attached instructions file)

Present Visual Task as described above. Subjects will practice on this task for 5 minutes.

 

Experimental Blocks

There will be a total of 3 experimental blocks and each block will be repeated twice.

 

Block A:

This block uses only the Recall Task

Present Block 1 instructions (see attached instruction file)

 

Present each word in word List1a once every 4 sec. (Use List1b when this block is repeated). Place number a new 3-digit number in the center of the screen. Leave number on the screen for 45 sec.  Subjects will count backwards by 3’s into the microphone. After number disappears from screen, play “beep” sound. At this point, subjects will say aloud the words from the List1 into a microphone.  Responses will be recorded for 60 sec. afterwards, display message on screen that they have completed the task.

 

Recall Task

Study List:

15 words
 

Filler Task:

Count backwards (3s)
 

Recall Only
 
 

 

 

 

 


60s                                           45s                               60s

 

 

 

 

 

 

Block B:

This block uses only the Visual Task.

Present Block 2 Instructions (see attached instructions file)

The Visual task is presented for 90sec for each time.

 

 

Visual Tracking Task

Pre-measure

 

RT choice Task
 
 

 

 

 

 


            30s                                           60s

 

 

 Block C:

This block combines the recall and visual tasks.

Present block 3 instructions (see attached instructions file).

 

Present word list2a (use list2b for repeat). Place 3-digit # on screen for 15sec.

Present visual task. After 30sec, play beep for recall (open sound recorder).The visual task should remain on the screen for another 60sec. (thus, the visual task is performed for a total of 90seconds and this display is continuous to the subject). Afterwards, display message on screen that they have completed the task.

 

Dual Task

Study List:

15 words
 

Filler Task:

Count backwards (3s)
 

Visual Task
 

Recall + Visual Task
 
 

 

 

 

 

 


                        60s                               15s                               30s                               60s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counterbalancing of Blocks:

 

There are a total of 6 experimental conditions such that a participant will receive only one of these conditions Blocks 1 should be counterbalanced in a specific order (see chart below).

 

Counterbalancing condition

1st block presented

2nd block

presented

3rd block presented

1

A

B

C

2

B

C

A

3

C

A

B

4

A

C

B

5

B

A

C

6

C

B

A

 

 

 

File Structure

 

You will need to save the data in several files

 

For the Recall Task:

Subject ID#, Condition, Block, RT onset and offset of the recall sound recorder

The sound files should be saved as a separate wav file (One for each recall task).

 

For the Visual Task:

I would like 3 data files: One for the practice, one for the single, one for the dual task with the following

Subject ID#, condition, block, X, Y, RT (as close to msec timing that we can get)