Hierarchical Rule Task
Switch mapping rules by border color: red border → respond by shape; blue border → respond by orientation (J/K/L keys).
Frequently Asked Questions
Have another question? Let us know.
What does this task measure?
Control over rules at different levels of a hierarchy — from applying a single stimulus-response rule, to selecting which rule set applies, to choosing which task to perform.
Why a hierarchy of rules?
Research by Badre and colleagues suggests progressively anterior frontal regions support control at increasingly abstract levels; behavioral versions measure the time cost of each level.
What should I look for in my results?
This implementation is a simplified single-level version of hierarchical control paradigms: a cue (the border color) selects which one-level rule applies. Fuller hierarchical-control paradigms compare several levels of abstraction, where reaction times typically lengthen as the required control becomes more abstract. Here, your results mainly reflect the cost of using the cue to select between the two rule sets.
Is better hierarchical control always better?
Not necessarily. Abstract control is powerful but effortful; efficient behavior means engaging the right level of control for the situation.
References
- Badre, D. (2008). Cognitive control, hierarchy, and the rostro-caudal organization of the frontal lobes. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 12(5), 193-200. 10.1016/j.tics.2008.02.004
- Sochat, V. V., Eisenberg, I. W., Enkavi, A. Z., Li, J., Bissett, P. G., & Poldrack, R. A. (2016). The Experiment Factory: Standardizing behavioral experiments. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 610. 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00610
- Koechlin, E., Ody, C., & Kouneiher, F. (2003). The architecture of cognitive control in the human prefrontal cortex. Science, 302(5648), 1181-1185. 10.1126/science.1088545
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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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