How long does the Choice Reaction Time Task take?
About 3 to 4 minutes, as listed in the test library.
Attention
Choice Reaction Time Task
Capture decision speed and response selection cost with a simple two-choice attention paradigm.
Useful for attention studies, concussion batteries, and remote protocols that need a low-friction decision-speed task.
Free to start: 10 free participants per account, then $0.99 per participant for academic research, or any yearly plan. Preview any test free after you sign up.
Attention3-4 minTimed: desktop or laptop with a mouse or trackpad
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What this task measures
Measures attention and decision speed by requiring participants to select the correct response based on which stimulus appears.
Core constructs
- Selective attention
- Decision speed
- Stimulus-response mapping
- Perceptual discrimination
Research fit
- Attention deficit screening
- Decision-speed assessment in aging
- Concussion sideline testing
- Pharmacological trial endpoints
Paradigm overview
The Choice Reaction Time task extends simple reaction time by adding a decision component. A stimulus (colored circle) appears on either the left or right side of the screen, and participants must press the corresponding arrow key. This stimulus-response mapping requires both stimulus identification and response selection.
The difference between CRT and SRT isolates the time required for decision-making, a relationship formalized by Hick's Law (1952): reaction time increases logarithmically with the number of stimulus-response alternatives.
A fixation cross maintains central gaze between trials. The task measures the speed and accuracy of basic perceptual decision-making under minimal cognitive load, serving as an intermediate measure between pure processing speed (SRT) and tasks requiring inhibition or conflict resolution.
Key scoring outputs
Mean Reaction Time
msAverage RT on correct trials only. Primary measure of decision speed.
Lower is better
Median Reaction Time
msMedian RT on correct trials, robust to outliers.
Lower is better
RT Standard Deviation
msVariability in reaction times across correct trials.
Lower is better
Accuracy
proportionProportion of correct responses (correct key pressed).
Higher is better
Correct Trials
countNumber of trials with a correct response.
Higher is better
Error Trials
countNumber of trials with an incorrect key press.
Lower is better
Running this test
Settings you can change
| Setting | Standard | Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Number of trials | 40 | 20 to 80 |
Yearly plans can change settings within these limits. Free and pay-as-you-go studies use the standard settings.
Need a setting this test does not have?
Devices and languages
- Timed test: participants need a desktop or laptop with a mouse or trackpad. Participant devices
- Task text: English and Italian.
- Available on: Every plan, including the free plan.
- Recruiting online? See the setup guides for Prolific, Sona Systems, CloudResearch Connect and Qualtrics.
Cite this test
Paradigm source: Donders (1869); Hick (1952).
ConductCognition versions: task version 1.0.0, scoring version 1.0.0. Every export records the versions each session used, for a methods section.
Source papers
Woods DL, Wyma JM, Yund EW, Herron TJ, Reed B (2015). Age-related slowing of response selection and production in a visual choice reaction time task. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 9:193.
Paradigm source
Research FAQ
Common questions about this online cognitive test
What device does a participant need?
Timed test: participants need a desktop or laptop with a mouse or trackpad. The browser must be Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari.
What scores does it produce?
Mean Reaction Time, Median Reaction Time, RT Standard Deviation, Accuracy, Correct Trials and Error Trials. Each session is also marked valid, needs review or invalid, with the reason.
Which settings can a researcher change?
Number of trials (20 to 80). Settings can be changed on yearly plans; free and pay-as-you-go studies use the standard settings.
Which languages can participants use?
The test's own text is in English and Italian. Italian participant pages come with yearly plans.
Is this a clinical test?
No. ConductCognition is for research use only. It runs, scores and exports the test; clinical interpretation is outside the platform.
Every test: the full test list.
Run this test in your next study
Start free with 10 free participants on any test, then use participant credits or a yearly plan.