Dual-Task Interference Test

Executive Function Duration: ~15 minutes
Dual-Task Interference Test screenshot

Description

Multi-task performance test measuring dual-task interference by comparing single-task and dual-task performance on two independent response dimensions.

About This Test

Participants respond to visual stimuli that vary along two dimensions (e.g., arrow direction and position). In single-task blocks, they respond to only one dimension. In dual-task blocks, they respond to both dimensions simultaneously using different hands. The task measures how performance on each dimension is affected by the need to process and respond to the other dimension, quantifying dual-task interference. The test supports four stimulus types: circle/square + size, arrow direction + size, double arrows (no offset), and double arrows (offset).

Test Details

Test ID:
dualtask
Main File:
dualtask.pbl
Parameters:
10 configurable parameters
Languages:
German English Spanish French Italian Portuguese SE

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Scientific Background

PEBL-Specific References:

These studies used the PEBL version of this task.

  • Mueller, S. T. & Piper, B. J. (2014). The PEBL Dual-Task Battery. Computer software. http://pebl.sourceforge.net

Data Output

Creates two output files: dualtask-data-<SUBNUM>.csv with trial-level data and dualtask-block-<SUBNUM>.txt with block-level summary statistics.

Example Data

example-data.csv Primary

Trial-by-trial data with columns: subnum, stimtype, block, trialtype (PRACTICE/TEST), trial, condition (trial type 1-4), stim (stimulus number 1-4), dim1/dim2 (correct values), time0 (trial start), resp1/resp2 (semantic responses), rt1/rt2 (reaction times), corr1/corr2 (correctness), tooslow (timeout flag)

subnumstimtypeblocktrialtypetrialconditionstimdim1dim2time0resp1rt1corr1resp2rt2corr2tooslow
example41PRACTICE-2512018145DIM1A16610NA000
example41PRACTICE-24140011540DIM1A9490NA000
example41PRACTICE-23111113800DIM1A5751NA000
example41PRACTICE-22131015584DIM1A8651NA000
example41PRACTICE-21120117713DIM1B4241NA000
example41PRACTICE-20111119224DIM1A5201NA000
example41PRACTICE-19131020701DIM1A5761NA000
example41PRACTICE-18140022195DIM1B7301NA000
example41TEST1120124105DIM1B6991NA000

View full file (397 rows) →

example-data-block.txt Summary

Block-level summary with columns: stimtype, condition type, mean RT dimension 1, mean RT dimension 2, mean accuracy dimension 1, mean accuracy dimension 2, proportion too slow

4 1 615 0 1 0 0
4 2 0 721 0 0.96 0
4 3 569 578 1 0.96 0
4 1 464 0 1 0 0
4 2 0 513 0 0.88 0
4 3 549 579 0.92 0.96 0
4 1 510 0 0.92 0 0
4 2 0 438 0 1 0
4 3 656 665 1 1 0
4 1 490 0 0.96 0 0

View full file (12 rows) →

Sample data showing typical output format. Actual values will vary by participant.

About This Test

Multi-task performance test measuring dual-task interference by comparing single-task and dual-task performance on two independent response dimensions.

Category: Executive Function
Estimated Duration: 15 minutes
Available Translations: 7 languages

Documentation Sources:
Test implementation, Parameter schema

Documentation Status: Standard