Dot Pattern Expectancy
Dot-pattern cue-probe task (DPX); F=target (AX), J=non-target; reports AX hits and AY/BX false alarms.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the DPX?
The Dot Pattern Expectancy task is a variant of the AX-CPT built from dot patterns. Like the AX-CPT, it probes how you use contextual cues to prepare the correct response.
What is context processing?
It is the ability to keep task-relevant context — such as the meaning of a cue — actively in mind and use it to bias the right response, a core function linked to prefrontal cortex.
What do the trial types reveal?
Errors on AY-type trials reveal proactive preparation (you expected the target), while BX-type errors reveal poor use of context. The contrast indexes your control strategy.
Is this used outside cognitive psychology?
Yes — versions appear in schizophrenia research, where context-processing deficits have been studied as a core feature of the condition.
References
- Posner, M. I., & Keele, S. W. (1968). On the genesis of abstract ideas. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 77(3), 353-363. 10.1037/h0025953
- Servan-Schreiber, D., Cohen, J. D., & Steingard, S. (1996). Schizophrenic deficits in the processing of context. Archives of General Psychiatry, 53(12), 1105-1112. 10.1001/archpsyc.1996.01830120037008
- Jones, J. A. H., Sponheim, S. R., & MacDonald, A. W., III. (2010). The dot pattern expectancy (DPX) task: Reliability and replication of deficits in schizophrenia. Psychological Assessment, 22(1), 60-71.
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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.
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