How long does the Rapid Visual Information Processing Task take?
About 4 to 5 minutes, as listed in the test library.
Attention
Rapid Visual Information Processing Task
Measure sustained attention and target-sequence detection with a browser-native RVP paradigm.
Useful for CANTAB-style vigilance batteries, ADHD studies, fatigue research, and attention endpoints.
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.
Attention4-5 minTimed: desktop or laptop with a mouse or trackpad
Preview
Cognitive test preview
What this task measures
Measures sustained attention and vigilance by asking participants to detect target digit sequences in a rapid stream.
Core constructs
- Sustained attention
- Vigilance
- Signal detection
- Processing stability
Research fit
- Attention and vigilance studies
- Medication and fatigue monitoring
- ADHD and frontal-systems research
- CANTAB-comparison batteries
Paradigm overview
Rapid Visual Information Processing measures sustained attention using a fast stream of single digits. Participants monitor the stream and press SPACEBAR when one of three target sequences appears: 3-5-7, 2-4-6 or 4-6-8. Filler digits never spell a target sequence by chance.
The task emphasizes vigilance under continuous perceptual load. A target counts as detected when a press falls within 1,800 ms of its last digit, and every digit outside those windows is a chance for a false alarm. Hits and false alarms are combined into a non-parametric sensitivity score, A-prime (Grier, 1971), which is 0.5 when presses do not separate targets from other digits.
Key scoring outputs
A-prime
scoreNon-parametric sensitivity index derived from hit rate and false-alarm rate.
Higher is better
Hit Rate
proportionProportion of target sequences detected within the response window.
Higher is better
False Alarm Rate
proportionShare of digits outside every target's response window that received a press.
Lower is better
Hit RT
msAverage time from the last digit of a detected target to the first press.
Lower is better
Commission Errors
countResponses not associated with a target sequence.
Lower is better
Omission Errors
countTarget sequences missed within the response window.
Lower is better
Non-target Digits
countDigits outside every target's response window. The false alarm rate is commission errors divided by this count.
Informational
Running this test
Settings you can change
| Setting | Standard | Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Digit interval (ms) | 600 | 400 to 1,000 |
| Total digits | 240 | 120 to 360 |
| Target sequences | 8 | 4 to 16 |
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: Wesnes & Warburton (1983); Sahakian et al. CANTAB RVP tradition.
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 CR, Wood SJ, Anderson V, et al. (2003). Normative data from the CANTAB. I. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 25(2):242-254. Robbins TW, James M, Owen AM, et al. (1994). Dementia, 5(5):266-281.
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?
A-prime, Hit Rate, False Alarm Rate, Hit RT, Commission Errors, Omission Errors and Non-target Digits. Each session is also marked valid, needs review or invalid, with the reason.
Which settings can a researcher change?
Digit interval (ms) (400 to 1,000), total digits (120 to 360) and target sequences (4 to 16). 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.