Recent studies suggest that memory consolidation can occur within very short periods, from seconds to minutes (Bönstrup et al., 2019, 2020). This study aims at investigating whether ultra-fast offline improvement is present in statistical learning. Statistical learning implies the process of unintentional acquisition of statistical regularities embedded in the environment. Here, we used the Alternating Serial Reaction Time (ASRT) Task (Howard et al., 2004), which can measure implicit probabilistic sequence learning and general motor learning separately. Participants completed the ASRT task with (1) shorter breaks (15 s), (2) longer breaks (30 s), or (3) self-paced duration between learning blocks. We compared their statistical learning and general skill learning performance, as well as the dynamics of learning between and during the breaks.
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The Alternating Serial Reaction Time (ASRT) task created with jsPsych to measure statistical learning and general skill learning. Four circles are presented on the screen. Target stimuli appear in one of the four circles consecutively. The task is to press the response key corresponding to the current target stimulus as fast and as possible.
The task begins with three blocks of practice. After that, 25 blocks of ASRT task follows. Each block contains 10 repetitions of a randomly chosen 8-element alternating sequence (making some trials more probable than others, see Nemeth et al., 2010, Vékony et al., 2020). The 's', 'f', 'j' and 'l' buttons are set as response keys (corresponding to the four positions from left to right). If correct response is given, the next element is presented after a 120 ms response-to-stimulus interval. If the response is wrong, the target stimulus remains on the screen. Average performance (mean accuracy and mean RT) is presented as a feedback after the end of the block. Statistical learning is measured by the acceleration of RTs to the more probable stimuli, whereas general skill learning is measured by the overall acceleration of response times over the course of the task.
If you use the script, please include this citation in your manuscript:
Vékony, T. (2021). Alternating Serial Reaction Time Task created with jsPsych (Version 1.0.0) [Computer software]. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7124730 DOI
Available languages: Hungarian, English
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)
ASRT task on GitHub
https://github.com/vekteo/ASRT_jsPsych
Current version of ASRT on Github
https://github.com/vekteo/ASRT_ultra_fast_consolidation
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The N-back task created with jsPsych to measure attention and working memory performance (Kirchner, 1958). In this task, letters are presented on the screen consecutively. The task is to press the "J" key on the keyboard for the target elements, and the "F" for the non-target elements. The target stimulus differs between the different level of the task. In this experiment, 0-back and 2-back tasks were implemented. During the former, participants had to press the "J" key only if the letter "X" was visible on the screen. For the latter condition, participants had to press "J" if the same letter appeared on the screen as two trials prior.
The task contains two block. Before the first block, a 10-trial practice is implemented. During the practice, the participant receives feedback about their answer ("Correct", "Wrong", "You did not respond"). After the practice, the two 50-trial long blocks begin. Between blocks, a self-paced rest period is inserted. After the end of the second block, the participant receive feedback about their overall success rate and reaction time.
If you use the script, please include this citation in your manuscript:
Vékony, T. (2021). Verbal N-back task created with jsPsych (Version 1.0.0) [Computer software]. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7100178
Available languages: Hungarian, English
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)
N-back task on GitHub
https://github.com/vekteo/Nback_jsPsych
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The PDP task created with jsPsych to measure implicit/explicit processes in the ASRT task.
The task consists of two main parts. In the first part, participants are asked to try to type in the sequence they perceived during the ASRT task. In the second part, they are asked to enter a sequence that they did not perceived during the ASRT task. Here, the appearance of the stimuli is controlled by the participant. The response keys are the same as in the main task.
Each section consists of 4 blocks. Each block is completed after 24 valid keypresses (the 25th keypress exits the block).
Available languages: Hungarian, English
If you use the script, please include this citation in your manuscript:
Vékony, T. (2021). ASRT Process Dissociation Procedures Task created with jsPsych (Version 1.0.0) [Computer software]. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7253644 DOI
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)
PDP task on GitHub
https://github.com/vekteo/ASRT_PDP_jsPsych
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