How long does the Intra/Extra Dimensional Set Shift Task take?
About 8 to 12 minutes, as listed in the test library.
Executive Function
Intra/Extra Dimensional Set Shift Task
Measure set-shifting, reversal learning, and extra-dimensional flexibility with generated browser-native stimuli.
Useful for CANTAB-style executive-function batteries, frontal-systems research, and aging studies.
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.
Executive function8-12 minTimed: desktop or laptop with a mouse or trackpad
Preview
Cognitive test preview
What this task measures
Measures cognitive flexibility and attentional set-shifting with criterion-based discrimination, reversal, intra-dimensional shift, and extra-dimensional shift stages.
Core constructs
- Cognitive flexibility
- Attentional set-shifting
- Reversal learning
- Executive function
Research fit
- Executive-function batteries
- Frontal-systems and set-shifting research
- Aging and neurodegeneration studies
- CANTAB-adjacent cognitive flexibility endpoints
Paradigm overview
Intra/Extra Dimensional Set Shift is a criterion-based visual discrimination and reversal-learning task. Participants choose between two compound stimuli and receive feedback, learning which dimension and value is currently rewarded.
The task progresses through simple discrimination, reversal, compound discrimination, intra-dimensional shift, intra-dimensional reversal, extra-dimensional shift, and extra-dimensional reversal stages. The extra-dimensional shift is the key flexibility demand: the relevant dimension changes from shape to line pattern after the participant has built an attentional set.
This implementation preserves the nine-stage progression and 6-consecutive-correct criterion while using generated non-proprietary SVG shapes and line patterns.
Key scoring outputs
Stages Completed
countNumber of IED stages passed within the trial cap.
Higher is better
EDS Errors
countIncorrect choices during the Extra-Dimensional Shift stage, conditional on reaching that stage.
Lower is better
Adjusted Total Errors
countObserved errors plus CANTAB-style penalties for stages not completed.
Lower is better
Pre-ED Errors
countErrors before the Extra-Dimensional Shift stage.
Lower is better
Mean Latency
msAverage response latency across discrimination choices.
Lower is informational, not always better
Running this test
Settings you can change
| Setting | Standard | Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Response timeout (ms) | 15,000 | 8,000 to 30,000 |
| Maximum trials per stage | 50 | 24 to 50 |
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.
- 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: Downes JJ, Roberts AC, Sahakian BJ, Evenden JL, Morris RG, Robbins TW (1989).
ConductCognition versions: task version 1.1.0, scoring version 1.1.0. Every export records the versions each session used, for a methods section.
Source papers
De Luca et al. (2003), Robbins et al. (1994), and Heaton et al. (1993) WCST cross-validation literature.
N 112818-79
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?
Stages Completed, EDS Errors, Adjusted Total Errors, Pre-ED Errors and Mean Latency. Each session is also marked valid, needs review or invalid, with the reason.
Which settings can a researcher change?
Response timeout (ms) (8,000 to 30,000) and maximum trials per stage (24 to 50). 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. Participant pages can be in Italian on yearly plans, but this test's screens stay in English.
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.