About this app
The Stroop task is a classic psychology test primarily used to assess selective attention, impulse control, and other executive functions associated with the working of the prefrontal cortex (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroop_effect). This innovative "Stroop of the Tongue" app takes this traditional task to a new level by incorporating speech recognition technology to automatically measure subtle “slips of the tongue”.
App Features:
1. Speech Recognition: Participants are challenged to name the font colors of words while ignoring the actual text. For instance, if they see the word “red” written in green ink, they must say “green,” not “red”.
2. Detecting Interference: The app assesses how well participants overcome interference between word text and font color. This interference can lead to amusing slips of the tongue.
3. Scientifically Validated: Previous research has demonstrated that vocal responses enhance the sensitivity of the Stroop task. When participants verbally state color names, the effects are more pronounced compared to manual responses (such as pressing keys). For recently published findings on the magnitude of Stroop effects seen with these different response modalities, see Fennell & Ratcliff (2019) [J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn. Volume 45 (Issue 11), Pages 2098–2119] and Augustinova et al. (2019) [Front Psychol. Volume 10, Article 1786].
How It Works:
-On each trial, 12 words/nonwords are displayed across the screen, with each of these stimuli written in one of four possible font colors (red, green, blue, or yellow). What color name the text of each word spells and what font color it is written in are both randomly determined within the following restrictions. An equal number of the stimuli are written in each of the font colors and, in conditions using words, an equal number of the stimuli have text that spells the name of each color. The font color of each stimulus is always different from the font color of the preceding stimulus in that trial.
-Neutral Condition: Nonwords (“XXXXX”) serve as a baseline. The app measures the accuracy and speed when naming the font colors of these neutral stimuli.
-Congruent Condition: Participants encounter words whose text spells the same color name as their font color (e.g., “BLUE” written in blue ink). The app measures the accuracy and speed when naming the font colors of these congruent stimuli.
-Incongruent Condition: Participants encounter words whose text spells a color name different from their font color (e.g., “BLUE” written in red ink). The app measures the accuracy and speed when naming the font colors of these incongruent stimuli.
-Facilitation Effect: The facilitation effect—a measure of word processing speed—is derived by calculating the difference in accuracy and speed of responses to congruent stimuli (words whose text matches their font color) with those of responses to neutral stimuli.
-Interference Effect: The interference effect-a measure of selective attention and impulse control-is derived by calculating the difference in accuracy and speed of responses to incongruent stimuli (words whose text does not match their font color) with those of responses to neutral stimuli.
Why “Stroop of the Tongue”? While other existing Stroop apps rely solely on manual responses, this app leverages speech recognition technology. Participants’ spoken answers enhance the power of the Stroop task to detect effects. Explore what factors influence your brain’s fascinating ability to avoid slips of the tongue!
New features
The following 3 changes have been made in this second version of the app:
-When you first open the app, your device's microphone will immediately be tested in order to make sure permissions for the app to use the microphone have already been granted before you begin the first trial.
-A "Reset Data" option has been added.
-A glitch with the "Share Data" option has been fixed.
