Multisource Interference Task (MSIT)

Respond to the number that differs from the other two characters, ignoring its position and size. Press 1, 2, or 3.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have another question? Let us know.

What is the MSIT?

The Multi-Source Interference Task combines flanker- and Stroop-type conflict: you respond to the digit that differs while the digits' positions and values conspire to pull you toward the wrong key.

What does the interference effect mean?

The reaction-time gap between congruent and incongruent trials indexes how strongly irrelevant information captures your responses.

Why was it designed?

To produce a robust, imaging-compatible conflict signal — developed by Bush and Shin to be stronger than either Stroop or flanker alone.

What reduces the effect?

Practice narrows it somewhat, but the interference never disappears — it reflects how automatic digit reading and spatial capture are.

References

Bush, G., & Shin, L. M. (2006). The Multi-Source Interference Task: An fMRI task that reliably activates the cingulo-frontal-parietal attention/effort network. Nature Protocols, 1(1), 308-313. 10.1038/nprot.2006.48
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
Bush, G., Spencer, T. J., Holmes, J., Shin, L. M., Valera, E. M., ... Biederman, J. (2008). Functional magnetic resonance imaging of methylphenidate and placebo in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder during the multi-source interference task. Archives of General Psychiatry, 65(1), 102-114. 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2007.16

Related Experiments

Hick's Law Experiment

Featured

Investigates how the number of choices affects decision-making time, a classic study in cognitive psychology.

Start

Stroop Effect Experiment

Featured

Examines cognitive control by testing interference between naming colors and reading words.

Start

Negative Priming Experiment

Featured

Explores how ignored stimuli affect subsequent responses, revealing attentional suppression mechanisms.

Start

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.