Choice Reaction Time
Tap the orb the instant it appears
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What is the Choice Reaction Time?
Choice Reaction Time is the time it takes to pick the correct response when more than one stimulus or response is possible. It differs from simple reaction time, where a single signal always calls for the same response. Reaction time tasks are among the oldest tools in experimental psychology, and they are still used to study how quickly people detect, identify and respond to what they see.
According to Hick's law, choice reaction time rises as the number of possible alternatives increases. Researchers also look at errors, such as responding too early or to the wrong stimulus. The Neuroptimize game starts as a simple reaction task, where you tap a blue orb as soon as it appears, then adds decoy shapes and extra targets so that each tap requires a choice as well as speed.
How to play the Choice Reaction Time
- Each session has 15 trials. A trial starts with a waiting screen, and after a random delay of roughly one to three seconds the blue orb appears somewhere in the play area.
- Tap the blue orb as fast as you can. Your reaction time in milliseconds is shown after each successful trial, and faster taps earn a bigger points bonus.
- Tapping the play area before the orb appears counts as a false start ("Too soon!"), and waiting too long counts as "Too slow". Both end the trial as a miss.
- From level 5, decoy shapes appear alongside the target. Tapping a decoy counts as a mistake, so only tap the blue orb.
- The decoys become more similar to the target as you progress: red squares first, then orange diamonds, and from level 22 pink orbs that share the target's round shape.
- At higher levels you must tap two blue orbs (from level 11) or three (from level 21) to complete a trial. The orbs also get smaller and the time allowed to respond gets shorter.
- At the end you see your average and best reaction times for the session, based on your first tap in each successful trial.
Strategies and tips
Watch the centre, not a corner
The orb can appear anywhere in the play area. Keeping your gaze near the middle lets you catch it in any position without moving your eyes far.
Resist guessing the timing
The delay before each orb is random, so there is no rhythm to predict. Tapping early is a guaranteed miss, while a slightly slow tap still scores, so wait until you actually see the orb.
Search for blue, not movement
Once decoys appear, anything can pop up at the same moment as the target. Set yourself to look for the blue colour specifically, which is the one feature that never changes.
Check the shape at level 22
From level 22 some decoys are pink orbs, the same round shape as the target. Here colour is the only reliable cue, so take a split second to confirm the blue before tapping.
Plan the order for multiple orbs
When two or three targets appear, your reaction time is measured from your first tap, but the trial only succeeds once every blue orb is tapped. Tap the nearest one first, then sweep to the others in one smooth path.
The science behind the Choice Reaction Time
Reaction time is the interval between the appearance of a stimulus and the response to it. Simple reaction time involves a single stimulus and response, while choice reaction time requires selecting among several responses. According to Hick's law, choice reaction time increases with the number of possible alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good reaction time?
Simple visual reaction times for adults are commonly quoted at roughly 200 to 300 milliseconds. Choice reaction times are longer because you also have to identify the right target. Device and screen delays add to any time measured on a phone or computer, so compare your scores with your own earlier results.
What is the difference between simple and choice reaction time?
Simple reaction time uses one stimulus and one response, like tapping as soon as a light appears. Choice reaction time adds alternatives, so you must decide which stimulus to respond to or which response to make. Hick's law describes how choice reaction time increases as the number of alternatives grows.
What is Hick's law?
Hick's law, also called the Hick-Hyman law, states that the time needed to make a choice increases with the number of possible alternatives. The increase is roughly logarithmic rather than linear. It is one of the best-known findings in reaction time research.
Why does my reaction time vary from trial to trial?
Reaction times naturally vary a little each time, even for the same person on the same day. Attention, fatigue, where the target appears and how long you waited all play a part. That is why the game reports both an average and a best time for each session.