What this test measures
The Stroop test is the most famous measure of cognitive inhibition. A colour word — like RED — is printed in a different ink, and you must name the ink, not read the word. Overriding the automatic urge to read takes effort, which slows you on incongruent trials. Your score is the number you answer correctly in 45 seconds; the Stroop effect — the extra time incongruent trials cost — is reported too.
How to play
A colour word appears in a coloured ink. Click the button for the INK colour and ignore what the word spells. Number keys 1–4 map to the four colours for speed. Answer as many as you can before the timer runs out.
How to improve
- Focus on the colour, not the letters — squint if it helps.
- Use the number keys; they are faster than the mouse.
- A smaller Stroop effect means stronger inhibition, even at the same score.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Stroop effect? The slowdown when a word's meaning conflicts with its ink colour — naming the ink of 'RED' printed in blue is harder than naming a plain colour patch.
What does the Stroop test measure? Selective attention and cognitive inhibition — suppressing an automatic response (reading) in favour of a deliberate one.
Is this the real Stroop test? It is a faithful browser version of the classic colour-word interference task.
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