Operation Span Task (OSPAN)
Description
Complex working memory span task that requires participants to remember letters while solving math problems.
Measures: Complex working memory span, executive function, dual-task processing, mathematical processing speed
working memory executive function dual-task processing mathematical processing
Ages: 18+ · Populations: adults, research, clinical
About This Test
Participants solve math equations (e.g., '(3 * 2) + 4 = 11') and judge them as True or False, then see a letter to remember. After a series of math-letter pairs (set size 3-7), they recall the letters in order by clicking on a grid. The task includes practice blocks for letters only, math only, and combined math-letter trials. Math performance is monitored and participants must maintain 85% accuracy on math problems to ensure divided attention. The main test consists of 15 trials with varying set sizes (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) repeated 3 times each in random order.
- Task follows Unsworth et al. (2005) methodology with 3-7 letter set sizes
- Math accuracy threshold (default 85%) enforced to ensure divided attention
- Adaptive math timeout calculated from practice: mean + 2.5*SD with 1000ms minimum
- Practice includes: letters only (4 trials), math only (15 trials), combined (3 trials at size 2)
- Main test: 15 trials with set sizes [3,4,5,6,7] × 3 repetitions in randomized order
- Math problems loaded from distraction.csv file (arithmetic equations with T/F answers)
- Letter recall uses custom mouse-clickable grid with Clear/Del/Done buttons
- Real-time accuracy display shown in test phase (top right, red text, 50% larger font)
- Trial counter shows current trial / total trials during test phase
- Supports LSL markers for electrophysiological recording integration
- Supports online upload via InitializeUpload() and UploadFile()
- Uses HTML-lite formatted text with adaptive textboxes for instructions
- Includes 7 translations (en, es, de, pt, fr, nl, it) via JSON translation system
- Creates HTML report summarizing span score, math accuracy, and performance by set size
Test Details
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Scientific Background
Original Task References:
These references describe the original task that this PEBL implementation is based on.
- Turner, M. L., & Engle, R. W. (1989). Is working memory capacity task dependent? Journal of Memory and Language, 28(2), 127-154.
- Unsworth, N., Heitz, R. P., Schrock, J. C., & Engle, R. W. (2005). An automated version of the operation span task. Behavior Research Methods, 37(3), 498-505.
- Unsworth, N., Redick, T. S., Heitz, R. P., Broadway, J. M., & Engle, R. W. (2009). Complex working memory span tasks and higher-order cognition: A latent-variable analysis of the relationship between processing and storage. Memory, 17(6), 635-654.
Validation status: Validated · Psychometric data available · Normative data available
Originally developed by D. L. Hegarty, with modifications by the PEBL Project. Licensed GPLv3. This implementation follows the Turner & Engle (1989) original operation span paradigm and the Unsworth et al. (2005) automated procedure. The task has been extensively validated as a measure of working memory capacity and executive function. Migrated to Layout & Response System v2.3 with adaptive formatted textboxes, LSL integration, and online upload support.
Related Tests
Data Output
Creates three files: (1) ospan-<SUBNUM>.csv with trial-level recall data, (2) ospan-math-<SUBNUM>.csv with individual math problem responses and reaction times, and (3) ospan-report-<SUBNUM>.html with summary statistics and visualizations.
Key Variables
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
| memcorr | Primary DV for span file: proportion correct letter recall = number of letters recalled correctly divided by set size (length) |
| length | Set size: number of letters to recall in this trial (3-7 for test trials, 2 for practice) |
| probtime | Math problem presentation timeout in ms, calculated adaptively from practice block (mean RT + 2.5*SD, minimum 1000ms). Applied uniformly across the full test. |
| memtime | Letter presentation timeout in ms (fixed parameter, not adaptive) |
| time | Average response time per letter in ms, averaged across letters in trial. Not a primary dependent variable. |
| mathprestime | Math presentation timeout in ms (math file): same adaptive value as probtime in span file |
| distcorr | Proportion of math problems answered correctly in this trial (numcorrdist / totnumdist) |
| runningcorrect | Cumulative correct math responses across all trials to this point. Not a primary dependent variable; use distcorr or overall math accuracy instead. |
| runningtotal | Cumulative total math problems across all trials to this point. Not a primary dependent variable. |
Column meanings confirmed by reviewing source code (ospan.pbl). Practice trials are numbered sequentially starting from trial 1 (not labeled separately). The math file header correctly matches the written data in the current version: type='D' (distractor code), corr=correctness flag, rt=reaction time. Older pre-Mueller versions may have had different column order — verify if analyzing archival data.
About This Test
Complex working memory span task that requires participants to remember letters while solving math problems.
Category: Memory
Estimated Duration: 15 minutes
Available Translations: 7 languages
Documentation Sources:
Test description file, Test implementation, Parameter schema
Documentation Status: Standard
Originally developed by D.L. Hegarty & Dufflecoat Enterprises (2014), with modifications by the PEBL Project. License: GPLv3.