PEBL Hub — IRB Fact Sheet — 2026-08-23
Math Processing Task
Processing Speed
Arithmetic
Category:Processing Speed
Duration:~10 minutes
Parameters:17 configurable parameters available
Version:1.0
Description
A timed arithmetic verification task based on the UTC test battery. Participants solve simple addition and subtraction problems and judge whether the answer is greater or less than 5.
Participants see arithmetic expressions (e.g., 3 + 4 - 2 =) and must quickly determine whether the result is less than or greater than 5. Problem complexity varies across blocks (2, 3, or 4 operations). Each block has a time limit (default 3 minutes) and per-problem deadline. Measures arithmetic processing speed and accuracy.
Measures: Arithmetic processing speed, mental calculation accuracy
Key Parameters
| blocktime | Duration of block in sec (default should be 3 min) (default: 180) |
| uselength1 | Should length 1 be used (sort of a control condition) (default: 0) |
| uselength2 | Sholud length 2 problems be used? (default: 1) |
| uselength3 | Should length 3 problems be used? (default: 1) |
| uselength4 | Should length 4 problems be used? (default: 1) |
| uselength5 | Should length 5 problems be used? (default: 0) |
| deadline1 | Deadline in ms for length-1 problems (default: 1500) |
| deadline2 | Deadline in ms for length-2 problems (default: 1500) |
| deadline3 | Deadline in ms for length-3 problems (default: 3000) |
| deadline4 | Deadline in ms for length-4 problems (default: 4000) |
| deadline5 | Deadline in ms for length-5 problems (default: 5000) |
| minsum | Smallest sum to use (default: 1) |
| maxsum | Largest sum to use (default: 9) |
| givefeedback | Whether correct/incorrect feedback should be given (default: 1) |
| randomizeblocks | Should order of blocks be randomized? (default: 0) |
| responsemode | Response method: auto (platform-aware), keyboardShift (L/R shift), keyboardSafe (Z/slash for web), arrowLR (arrows), mousetarget (click), mousebutton (L/R mouse), userselect (custom), touchtarget (touch) (default: auto) |
| responselabels | Semantic labels for left and right responses (default: Array) |
Data Output Columns
| subnum | Participant ID |
| trial | Trial number within block |
| feedback | Whether feedback was given (1=yes, 0=no) |
| val | Target sum value for the problem |
| length | Number of operands in the problem |
| stim | The operands (pipe-separated) |
| sum | Actual sum of the problem |
| resp | Participant response (< 5 or > 5) |
| corr | Whether response was correct (1=correct, 0=incorrect) |
| tooslow | Whether response exceeded deadline (1=too slow, 0=in time) |
| time | Absolute response time (ms since test start) |
| rt | Response time in milliseconds |
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). Armstrong Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory.
Mueller, S. T. (2012). The PEBL Math Processing Task. Computer software retrieved from http://pebl.sf.net/battery.html