Flanker Test (Eriksen)

What this test measures

The Eriksen Flanker task measures selective attention and your ability to ignore distraction. Five arrows appear and you respond to the direction of the middle one, while the flanking arrows point the same way (congruent) or the opposite way (incongruent). Incongruent trials are slower — that cost is the flanker effect. Your score is the number correct in 45 seconds.

How to play

Look only at the central arrow and press ← or → to match it, or tap the left or right of the screen. The four arrows around it are distractors — ignore them. Get as many correct as possible before time runs out.

How to improve

• Fix your gaze on the centre before each set appears.
• Do not let the flankers pull your eyes outward.
• A small flanker effect signals efficient attentional filtering.

Frequently asked questions

What is the flanker effect? The extra time it takes to respond when the surrounding arrows point opposite to the central one.

What does the flanker task measure? Selective attention and inhibitory control — filtering out irrelevant, conflicting information.

Who created it? Barbara and Charles Eriksen introduced it in 1974; it is a staple of attention research.