Flanker Task
Introduction
The flanker task, also known as the Eriksen flanker task, was designed by Eriksen and Eriksen in the early 1970s. Like most paradigms in this library, it is popular and there are many variants of the original.
The basic effect is that when you need to respond to stimuli that are "flanked" by irrelevant stimuli, the irrelevant stimuli can still affect your response. There is a similarity to other paradigms where this kind of interference from an irrelevant stimulus or stimulus feature occurs (like the Stroop task or the Simon task).
Frequently Asked Questions
Have another question? Let us know.
What is the flanker task?
The flanker task assesses attention and the ability to suppress responses to distracting stimuli.
Trial flow
Each trial shows a row of letters. Focus on the center letter and respond quickly and accurately; ignore the surrounding flankers.
Feedback
After each response, you receive feedback indicating whether your answer was correct or incorrect.
Show Details
About this implementation
The flanker task here differs slightly from the original flanker task by Eriksen and Eriksen (1974) for various practical reasons (this version is a bit simpler). For example, in the original study, the spacing between letters was varied, and in addition to compatible and incompatible letters, there were neutral letters. Of course, you can extend the code to add these features of the original study.
In this task, you respond with the A or L keys of your keyboard. This corresponds to the left or right lever press of the original task (A and L are left and right on the keyboard respectively). On touch devices, you can also tap the left or right half of the screen to give the same two responses.
Further Reading
Eriksen, B. A. & Eriksen, C. W. (1974). Effects of noise letters upon identification of a target letter in a non-search task. Perception and Psychophysics, 16, 143-149.
References
- Eriksen, B. A., & Eriksen, C. W. (1974). Effects of noise letters upon the identification of a target letter in a nonsearch task. Perception & Psychophysics, 16(1), 143-149. 10.3758/BF03203267
- Eriksen, C. W., & Schultz, D. W. (1979). Information processing in visual search: A continuous flow conception and experimental results. Perception & Psychophysics, 25(4), 249-263. 10.3758/BF03198804
- Kornblum, S., Hasbroucq, T., & Osman, A. (1990). Dimensional overlap: Cognitive basis for stimulus-response compatibility—A model and taxonomy. Psychological Review, 97(2), 253-270. 10.1037/0033-295X.97.2.253
Related Experiments
Hick's Law Experiment
FeaturedInvestigates how the number of choices affects decision-making time, a classic study in cognitive psychology.
Stroop Effect Experiment
FeaturedExamines cognitive control by testing interference between naming colors and reading words.
Negative Priming Experiment
FeaturedExplores how ignored stimuli affect subsequent responses, revealing attentional suppression mechanisms.
Learn More
APM Test - Actions Per Minute
FeaturedMeasure your clicking speed and visual reaction time. Click numbers from 50 to 1 as fast as possible!
Free IQ Test
FeaturedTest your intelligence quotient with this free IQ test covering pattern recognition, logical reasoning, and spatial skills.
Cognitive Processing and Performance Mindset Scale
FeaturedAssess cognitive processing and performance mindset across standard dimensions.
About This Experiment
This experiment is an educational adaptation for demonstration purposes. It is not a clinical diagnostic tool. Results reflect your performance in this specific session and should not be interpreted as an assessment of your cognitive abilities.
Data Privacy
Your experiment data is processed and stored locally in your browser. No data is uploaded to any server unless you explicitly export it.
