{"id":11442,"date":"2023-07-12T11:47:27","date_gmt":"2023-07-12T11:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/m-path.io\/manual\/?post_type=ht_kb&p=11442"},"modified":"2026-03-30T08:38:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T08:38:20","slug":"cognitive-tests","status":"publish","type":"ht_kb","link":"https:\/\/app-manual-wp-001-atfsdabuggg7fzdq.germanywestcentral-01.azurewebsites.net\/knowledge-base\/cognitive-tests\/","title":{"rendered":"Cognitive tests"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cognitive test modules are available in the cognitive test package. Contact us at contact@m-path.io<\/a> to get access to these modules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cognitive tests are very useful to establish a cognitive baseline for your participants, or to measure certain abilities under certain circumstances. A lot of cognitive tests you can build yourself with the building blocks provided by m-Path (more on that later), but some tasks are specific enough that they have been implemented as a plug-and-play solution, either as readymade constructs in the library, or as separate modules entirely. Data like correctness and reaction time are collected and can either be used for straight exporting and processing, or can be used in the questionnaire itself to dynamically alter the questionnaire flow. Here follows a small overview of currently implemented cognitive tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital Symbol Substitution Test (DSST)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Digital Symbol Substitution Test or DSST in short is fully implemented and available in the m-Path library. In a DSST, participants are tasked with finding the symbolic equivalent to a given digit. Here’s a sample of how it looks:<\/p>\n\n\n

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The m-Path DSST interface<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

It’s possible to design your own translation key variations quickly and simply by using this Photoshop file<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matrix Reasoning Task (MRT)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Matrix Reasoning Tasks, or MRT for short, are also available as custom built modules in m-Path. In an MRT, participants are tasked with finding the completing element for a matrix of shapes. Of course, stimuli will have to be provided by the researcher. An m-Path MRT test looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n

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m-Path MRT interface<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Spatial Working Memory Test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Spatial Working Memory Tests, participants are presented with a collection of buttons, which light up in a random order. It is up to the participant to memorise this pattern and repeat it. The difficulty and length of this task can be dynamically altered depending on participant performance, and a scoring system can be used to feed performance evaluation back to the participant. The shape of the playing field can also be specified by the researcher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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m-Path Spatial Working Memory Task<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Whack-a-Mole<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

m-Path offers an implementation of the popular Whack-a-Mole game, to test reaction speed in participants. Moles will randomly pop up on an NxN grid, which the participant then has to tap as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Whack-a-mole module in the m-Path dashboard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Grid size<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here, you can choose a grid size for your test, this will change how many possible positions there are for the moles to appear. We recommend keeping this value between 3 and 5 to ensure a user-friendly experience, however you are free to experiment with other sizes as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Two moles in a 3×3 grid<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Two moles in a 4×4 grid<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Difficulty level<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here you can choose between 5 difficulty levels. These change a few parameters of the test, namely the length of time a mole is on the screen, how quickly new moles pop up, and how many concurrent moles can be on the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amount of moles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here you can change the total amount of moles that will pop up before the test concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concurrent moles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here you can change the maximum amount of concurrent moles you will allow on the field. This setting overrides the difficulty level setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Export format<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This module exports its data in a constructed method with several output fields, which we will concisely explain here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n