PEBL Hub — IRB Fact Sheet — 2026-10-07
Match To Sample
Memory
Perception
Category:Memory
Duration:~10 minutes
Parameters:7 configurable parameters available
Version:1.0
Description
A visual short-term memory task where participants memorize a grid pattern and identify it from two alternatives after a delay.
A matrix of red and yellow squares is briefly displayed, then removed. After a delay, two matrices appear side by side — one identical to the original and one slightly different. Participants choose which matrix matches the original. Measures visual short-term memory and pattern recognition.
Measures: Visual short-term memory, pattern recognition, processing speed
Key Parameters
| size | Number of rows/columns in the matrix (default: 4) |
| autorun | Should stimulus be presented automatically for a fixed time. 1 if yes, 0 if no, in which case it awaits participants keypress. (default: 1) |
| prestime | How long the stimulus should be presented, if autorun is non-zero (in ms). (default: 1000) |
| givefeedback | Should correct/incorrect feedback be given. 1=yes,0=no (default: 1) |
| numtrials | Number of total trials (default: 30) |
| delay | Time between study and test, in ms (default: 3500) |
Example Data Output (5 sample rows)
| subnum | trial | targ | foil | studytime | rt | order | resp | corr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| example | 1 | 0110010011110100 | 0110010010111100 | 1002 | 531 | 0 | right | 1 |
| example | 2 | 1110101100110001 | 0110101100110011 | 1003 | 383 | 0 | left | 0 |
| example | 3 | 0011111000100111 | 0011101001100111 | 1001 | 466 | 0 | right | 1 |
| example | 4 | 1000110101101011 | 1010110001101011 | 1003 | 460 | 0 | left | 0 |
| example | 5 | 0100010011010011 | 1000010011010011 | 1003 | 541 | 0 | right | 1 |
References
Perez, W. A., Masline, P. J., Ramsey, E. G., & Urban, K. E. (1987). Unified tri-services cognitive performance assessment battery: Review and methodology. DTIC/TR-87-007.
Mueller, S. T. (2011). The PEBL Match To Sample Task. Computer software retrieved from http://pebl.sf.net/battery.html