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Motor Praxis Task (MPT)
(German instructions)
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Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Date: 01-03-2023
last updated: 11-04-2024 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Script Copyright © 11-04-2024 Millisecond Software
German translation provided by K. Borchert for Millisecond Software
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BACKGROUND INFO
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This script implements Millisecond Software's version of the Motor Praxis Task (MPT) described by Taylor
et al (2019). The Motor Praxis Task tests psychomotor speed and visual tracking.
Researchers can select to run the task with an absolute screen size to ensure that distances
stay the same across devices. The default setting is to use proportional sizing.
Go to section Defaults for more information.
Reference:
Taylor, Y., Merat, N., & Jamson, S. (2019). The Effects of Fatigue on Cognitive Performance
in Police Officers and Staff During a Forward Rotating Shift Pattern.
Safety and Health at Work, 10(1), 67–74.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2018.08.003
Gur, R. C., Richard, J., Hughett, P., Calkins, M. E., Macy, L., Bilker, W. B.,
Brensinger, C., & Gur, R. E. (2010). A cognitive neuroscience-based computerized battery for
efficient measurement of individual differences: Standardization and initial construct validation.
Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 187(2), 254–262.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2009.11.017
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TASK DESCRIPTION
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Participants are asked to quickly touch a series of blue dots as they appear on the screen in random
locations. The dots continuously get smaller in size on each new trial.
This script allows test administrators to set the start and end size of the dots as well as the number
of trials to run. Based on these three variables (number of trials, start- and end size),
the script calculates the size adjustment rate per trial.
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DURATION
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the default set-up of the script takes appr. 2 minutes to complete
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DATA OUTPUT DICTIONARY
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The fields in the data files are:
(1) Raw data file: 'motorpraxistest_raw*.iqdat' (a separate file for each participant)
//built-in Inquisit variables:
blockCode, blockNum: the name and number of the current block (built-in Inquisit variable)
trialCode, trialNum: the name and number of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable)
Note: trialNum is a built-in Inquisit variable; it counts all trials run; even those
that do not store data to the data file.
Note: trial.searchEnd currently stores the summary of a target search.
response: the response of participant during current trial
latency: response latency (in ms); measured from onset of dot
//custom variables:
trialCounter: counts the number of trials run
xPct: horizontal coordinate of the current dot (in %)
yPct: vertical coordinate of the current dot (in %)
stimSizeAdjust: the percentage height adjustments done per trial
stimHeightPct: the height of the current in %of active canvas
stimHeightMM: the height of the current in mm
(2) Summary data file: 'motorpraxistest_summary*.iqdat' (a separate file for each participant)
inquisit.version: Inquisit version run
computer.platform: the platform the script was run on (win/mac/ios/android)
startDate: date script was run
startTime: time script was started
subjectId: assigned subject id number
groupId: assigned group id number
sessionId: assigned session id number
elapsedTime: time it took to run script (in ms); measured from onset to offset of script
completed: 0 = script was not completed (prematurely aborted);
1 = script was completed (all conditions run)
numberOfTrials: the set number of test trials to run
meanRT: the mean response latency (in ms)
medianRT: the median response latency (in ms)
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EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
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1. Practice: 5 trials (editable parameter)
During the practice trials, the dot stays the same size.
The Dot appears randomly somewhere on the active canvas. Participants are instructed to touch
the dot as fast as possible. If no response occurs within the first 3se, a reminder text
stimulus appears on screen.
2. Test: 20 trials (editable parameter)
During the test trials, the dot gradually decreases in size (see Editable Parameters for size
settings). The Dot appears randomly somewhere on the active canvas. Participants are instructed to touch
the dot as fast as possible. No reminder text appears on screen if participants fail to respond.
Number of Trials in practice/test blocks as well as their color and size can be adjusted under
section Editable Parameters.
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STIMULI
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provided by Millisecond Software
The color of practice and test dots as well as sizes can be adjusted
under section Editable Parameters.
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INSTRUCTIONS
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provided by Millisecond Software - can be edited under section 'Editable Instructions'
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EDITABLE CODE
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check below for (relatively) easily editable parameters, stimuli, instructions etc.
Keep in mind that you can use this script as a template and therefore always "mess" with the entire code
to further customize your experiment.
The parameters you can change are:
//color parameter
/ canvasColor = black //Display color of the actively used portion of the screen (the 'canvas')
//Note: if set to a color other than the screencolor, the active canvas
//appears 'anchored' on the screen regardless of monitor size
/ screenColor = black //Color of the screen not used by the canvas ('inactive screen')
/ defaultTextColor = white //Default color of text items presented on active canvas
//CANVAS SIZING PARAMETERS
//sizing Parameters in RELATIVE measurements relative to CANVAS HEIGHT
//NOTE: to run the script with ABSOLUTE screen measurements, go to 'defaults' and set
//canvasSize to absolute measurements
/ startSizePct = 15% //set the startSize (diameter) of the circle in percent (size during trial1)
/ endSizePct = 3% //set the endSize of the circle in percent (size during last trial)
/ numberOfTrials = 20 //set the number of test trials to run
//Note: the script calculates the adjustment rate based on those
//three variables (see expressions.stimSize_adjust)
/ stimColorTest = blue //the color of the test dots
///practice:
/ numberOfPracticeTrials = 5 //set the number of practice trials to run
/ stimColorPractice = blue //the color of the practice dots
