Difference between revisions of "CNP DRL"
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'''Task Procedure''' | '''Task Procedure''' | ||
| − | This DRLT was programmed in E-Prime 2.0. At the beginning of the task, instructions are presented on the screen in yellow, size 20 Arial font, with a black screen background. | + | This DRLT was programmed in E-Prime 2.0. At the beginning of the task, instructions are presented on the screen in yellow, size 20 Arial font, with a black screen background. The instructions are as follows: |
<center>In this game, you have an opportunity to win money by | <center>In this game, you have an opportunity to win money by | ||
Revision as of 14:53, 26 May 2011
Basic Task Description
The deterministic reversal learning task (DRLT) is a computerized measure of reversal learning, a form of behavioral/cognitive flexibility that has been widely investigated in both animal and human studies (Robbins et al., 2000). This particular task version was modeled after a paradigm originally used to examine genetic associations with reversal learning in BXD strains of mice (Laughlin et al., 2011). Participants are presented with two doors and instructed that they will receive monetary rewards based on which door they choose. The initial side of reinforcement (right or left) is randomly selected by the computer. If participants select the door associated with the reward, they immediately see two quarters appear in place of the door and hear a rewarding sound (cash register noise). Reinforced selections also present a running total of earnings on the bottom of the screen. If participants select the door that is not associated with the reward, they immediate see an empty white box in place of the door and hear a negative sound (buzzing noise). Once participants have consistently selected the reinforced door, the reward contingencies for the doors are reversed. After this reversal, participants need to consistently select the newly reinforced door in order to complete the task. The primary dependent variable is the number of errors that are made after reversal.
Task Procedure
This DRLT was programmed in E-Prime 2.0. At the beginning of the task, instructions are presented on the screen in yellow, size 20 Arial font, with a black screen background. The instructions are as follows:
looking behind doors. Do your best to find as much money as possible. You will actually be given the money that you earn in this task.
You may only use the index finger of your dominant hand to respond, and you must respond as quickly as you can.
You may NOT use two hands on this task.
On the keyboard, you'll see three marked keys: left, middle, and right. To start each play of the game,
PRESS AND HOLD THE MIDDLE KEY DOWN,
and release the key only when you see doors appear to the left and right. Then choose one of the doors to open by pressing either the left or right keys.
You will get money based on which door you choose.
Before we start the game, let's take a moment to practice the key presses...