Table 1 Inhibition Tasks.

From: Adult age differences in the integration of values for self and other

Task (adapted from)

Task description

Outcome measure

Go-Nogo

Two vertically or horizontally arranged dots (500ms) were presented. In “go” trials (vertically arranged dots), participants should press the response key. In “nogo” trials (horizontally arranged dots), participants should not react. In total the task consisted of 280 “go” and 40 “nogo” trials. At least five “go” trials were in between a “nogo” trial.

IES1 (average RTs for correct “go” trials are divided by the proportion of correct “nogo” trials)

Stroop 55,66

A stimulus was presented (1000ms) illustrating a row of either one, two, three, or four identical digits ranging from 1 to 4. The number and denotations of the digit could either be congruent (80 trials) or incongruent (80 trials). Instruction indicated to ignore denotations but respond in accordance with the number of presented digits by pressing one of four corresponding response keys.

IES2-difference (IES from congruent vs. IES from incongruent trials)

Stop Signal 94,97

Participants saw an arrow that either pointed to the left or right side. In total, 200 “go” and 40 “stop” trials were included. In “go” trials (arrow presented for 1000ms), participants should press the left or right response key corresponding to the direction of the arrow. In “stop” trials (upward-pointing instead of sideward-pointing arrow), participants were instructed to withhold the response after a variable stop-signal delay (SSD). At least five “go” trials were presented between “stop” trials.

SSRT (quantile method3 based on94

  1. Note. Each trial starts with a fixation cross (750ms). IES = inverse efficiency score; RT = reaction time; SSRT = stop signal reaction time.
  2. 1IES, derivded by dividing the average RT for accurate “go” trials by the ratio of correct response in “nogo” trials (indicated in milliseconds).
  3. 2First, IES were calculate separately for congruent and incongruent trials by dividing the corresponding average RT by the corresponding accuracy rate. After that, the difference between IES in congruent and incongruent trials was calculated for each participant.
  4. 3RTs from correct go trials are sorted in ascending order, and quantiles of RTs related to error rates on “stop” trials are selected. The mean SSD is then subtracted from the quantile RT to calculate SSRT (see also91,94).
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