Color Stroop Task
System Requirements
Minimum: 800×600
Recommended: 1280×800
May be challenging for colorblind participants
Description
A classic executive function task measuring inhibitory control by requiring participants to name the ink color of color words while ignoring the semantic meaning of the word itself.
Measures: Executive function, inhibitory control, selective attention, processing speed, and the ability to suppress prepotent reading responses in favor of color naming.
Executive Function Attention Processing Speed
Ages: 7+ · Populations: adults, children, research, clinical, neuropsychological-assessment
About This Test
Participants see color words (red, blue, green, yellow) printed in colored ink and must respond with the ink color using keyboard keys 1-4, ignoring the word meaning. The task includes three conditions: (1) congruent trials where word and color match (e.g., 'red' in red ink), (2) incongruent trials where they mismatch (e.g., 'red' in blue ink), and (3) neutral trials with non-color words. The task consists of practice trials with feedback, followed by two test blocks with no feedback. Optional vocal response mode is available but requires manual scoring.
- Classic Stroop task implementing color-word interference paradigm
- Two test blocks of 72 trials each (24 congruent, 24 incongruent, 24 neutral)
- Practice block with accuracy threshold requirement (default 85%)
- Feedback provided during practice trials only
- Includes 8 language translations: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, Dutch, Portuguese
- Updated to PEBL 2.3 with Layout system, block counters, and version 1.0 (2026)
- Audio response mode available but requires manual post-hoc scoring
- Uses adaptive label sizing for multilingual support
Test Details
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Scientific Background
Original Task References:
These references describe the original task that this PEBL implementation is based on.
- Stroop, J. R. (1935). Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18(6), 643-662.
- MacLeod, C. M. (1991). Half a century of research on the Stroop effect: An integrative review. Psychological Bulletin, 109(2), 163-203.
Validation status: Validated · Psychometric data available · Normative data available
Related Tests
Data Output
Creates multiple data files: (1) colstroop-keyboard-<subnum>.csv with trial-by-trial data, (2) colstroop-keyboard-summary-<subnum>.txt with performance statistics, (3) colstroop-keyboard-pooled.csv combining all participants, and (4) colorstroop-sumall.csv with summary statistics.
Key Variables
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
| subnum | Participant identifier code |
| block | Block number (0=practice, 1=first test block, 2=second test block) |
| trial | Trial number within block |
| stimword | The word displayed (color name or neutral word) |
| stimcolorid | Numeric ID of the ink color (1=red, 2=blue, 3=green, 4=yellow) |
| stimcolorname | Name of the ink color |
| cond | Trial type: C=congruent, I=incongruent, N=neutral |
| response | Participant's response (1-4 for colors) |
| correct | Response accuracy (1=correct, 0=incorrect) |
| rt | Response time in milliseconds |
| randomerror | Whether error was random (1) or not (0) |
| incong | Whether error was due to word-color incongruence (1) or not (0) |
About This Test
A classic executive function task measuring inhibitory control by requiring participants to name the ink color of color words while ignoring the semantic meaning of the word itself.
Category: Executive Function
Estimated Duration: 10 minutes
Available Translations: 8 languages
Documentation Sources:
Test description file, Test implementation, Parameter schema
Documentation Status: Complete