STOP-IT: Windows executable software for the stop-signal paradigm

• Published in: Behavior research methods Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 479 - 483
• Main Authors: Verbruggen, Frederick, Logan, Gordon D., Stevens, Michaël A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.05.2008; Psychonomic Society, Inc
• Subjects: Adults; Attention deficit disorder; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Estimates; Inhibition (Psychology); Older people; Psychology; Psychology, Experimental - methods; Reaction Time; Software; Studies; Task Performance and Analysis; Race Model; Stop Signal; Configuration File; Instruction File; Output Folder
• ISSN: 1554-351X; 1554-3528
• DOI: 10.3758/BRM.40.2.479

The stop-signal paradigm is a useful tool for the investigation of response inhibition. In this paradigm, subjects are instructed to respond as fast as possible to a stimulus unless a stop signal is presented after a variable delay. However, programming the stop-signal task is typically considered to be difficult. To overcome this issue, we present software called STOP-IT, for running the stop-signal task, as well as an additional analyzing program called ANALYZE-IT. The main advantage of both programs is that they are a precompiled executable, and for basic use there is no need for additional programming. STOP-IT and ANALYZE-IT are completely based on free software, are distributed under the GNU General Public License, and are available at the personal Web sites of the first two authors or at expsy.ugent.be/tscope/stop.html.