Meta-T: TetrisⓇ as an experimental paradigm for cognitive skills research

Behav Res Methods. 2015 Dec;47(4):945-965. doi: 10.3758/s13428-014-0547-y.

Abstract

Studies of human performance in complex tasks using video games are an attractive prospect, but many existing games lack a comprehensive way to modify the game and track performance beyond basic levels of analysis. Meta-T provides experimenters a tool to study behavior in a dynamic task environment with time-stressed decision-making and strong perceptual-motor elements, offering a host of experimental manipulations with a robust and detailed logging system for all user events, system events, and screen objects. Its experimenter-friendly interface provides control over detailed parameters of the task environment without need for programming expertise. Support for eye-tracking and computational cognitive modeling extend the paradigm's scope.

Keywords: Behavioral methods; Cognitive skills; Cognitive tasks; Experiment design; Eye tracking methods; Games; Levels of analysis; Log files; Tetris.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Behavioral Research / methods*
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Games, Experimental*
  • Humans
  • Neuropsychological Tests*
  • Research Design
  • Video Games / psychology*