PyVDT: A PsychoPy-Based Visual Sequence Detection Task

Abstract

PyVDT is a computerized test consisting of two brief visual sequence detection tasks in which participants watch single digits displayed on screen and respond whenever target digit sequences (even – odd – even) are displayed. The total duration of the test is around five minutes. PyVDT is a reimplementation of the Visual Monitoring Task (VMT), a task thought to measure working memory. PyVDT uses the PsychoPy API to display digits, to plot diagnostic information, and to output log files and results. It is available for download on Figshare and GitHub. PyVDT is free software and has minimal software and hardware requirements. Thus, PyVDT provides a readily available visual monitoring task for use in experiments within cognitive science and related fields.

Keywords

• working memory
• visual working memory
• visuospatial working memory
• visual detection
• visual monitoring task
• psychopy
• python