PEBL Hub — IRB Fact Sheet — 2026-08-23
Manikin Test
Category:Spatial Cognition
Duration:~5 minutes
Parameters:3 configurable parameters available
Version:1.0
Input:Keyboard
Description
The PEBL Manikin test. A test of 3-D spatial reoreientation.
Participants view a manikin figure shown in various orientations (forward/backward, upright/upside-down) holding targets in each hand. The task is to identify which hand holds a specific target (red square or green circle) while mentally rotating the spatial perspective. Responses are made using left and right shift keys corresponding to the manikin's hands.
Key Parameters
| numBlocks | Number of test blocks to complete (each block contains 16 trials). (default: 3) |
| zoom | Size of displayed manikin (scale factor) (default: 0.6) |
| iti | Wait time between trials in ms (default: 750) |
| responsemode | Response method: auto (platform-aware), keyboardShift (L/R shift), keyboardSafe (Z/slash for web), arrowLR (left/right arrows), mousetarget (click targets), mousebutton (L/R mouse buttons), userselect (custom key) (default: auto) |
Example Data Output (4 sample rows)
| subnum | block | trial | target | targetname | forback | updown | hand | handname | resp | time1 | rt | corr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P001 | PRACTICE | 1 | -1 | greencircle | 1 | -1 | -1 | right | <lshift> | 49509 | 1301 | 0 |
| P001 | PRACTICE | 2 | -1 | greencircle | -1 | -1 | 1 | left | <rshift> | 51761 | 577 | 0 |
| P001 | PRACTICE | 3 | 1 | redsquare | 1 | -1 | 1 | left | <rshift> | 53290 | 1286 | 0 |
| P001 | PRACTICE | 4 | 1 | redsquare | -1 | -1 | -1 | right | <rshift> | 55527 | 1507 | 1 |
References
Carter, R., & Woldstad, J. (1985). Repeated measurements of spatial ability with the manikin test. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 27(2), 209-219.
Damos, D. L. (1986). Development of a Computer-Based Naval Aviation Selection Test Battery. NAVAL AEROSPACE MEDICAL RESEARCH LAB PENSACOLA FL.