Balloon Analog Risk Task

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Balloon Analog Risk Task

Basic Characteristics

  • Description

The Balloon Analog Risk task is a computer based assessment of risk taking behavior. A subject uses a computer mouse click a balloon pump that inflates a balloon on the screen. Participants are not given any detailed information about the probability of the balloon exploding. Each pump of the balloon without its' explosion places money into a money reserve. Should the subject pop their balloon they lose all money and another balloon appears. At any time during a trial the subject can click "collect money" and transfer all money from a temporary bank account to a permanent account where a new total is updated. Subjects are informed that the objective of the task is to get the largest amount of money possible while avoiding balloon explosions.


  • History
  • References

Hunt et al, 2005. Construct validity of the balloon analog risk task PMID 1624412

Related Information

  • Cognitive construct associated with this task (vote for your favorite, or nominate a new construct label by editing this page): Risk taking behavior
  • Indicators (dependent variables, conditions, or contrasts; measurement variables used for analysis) associated with this task (vote or nominate by editing this page):
    • dependent variables: total number of balloon explosions and number of balloon pumps
  • Closely related pages (vote or nominate related pages by editing this page):
    • Within Species
    • Across Species
  • CNP Level
  • Primary Species

External Resources

  • Database links

Task Details

  • Task Structure (please given an overview of the task procedures here [i.e., overall design, block, trial, and within-trial event structure and timing])
    • procedure
      • block: experimental block administered until 30 trials were completed
      • trial: 30 completed trials
  • Stimulus Characteristics
    • sensory modality (e.g., visual, auditory, somatosensory, gustatory, olfactory): visual and auditory
    • functional modality (e.g., linguistic, spatial, numerical, categorical):
    • presentation modality (e.g., human examiner, paper, computer display, headphones, speaker): computer display with speakers
  • Response Characteristics
    • response required -
      • effector modality (e.g., vocal, manual, pedal): manual
      • functional modality (e.g., words, drawing, writing, keypress, movement): mouse press
    • response options (e.g., yes/no, go/no-go, forced choice, multiple choice [specify n of options], free response)-
    • response collection (e.g., examiner notes, keyboard, keypad, mouse, voice key, button press)- mouse
  • Assessment/Control Characteristics
    • timing
      • monthly cycle dependent??
      • circadian dependent??
    • control assessment
      • 5 senses??