Stop-Signal Paradigm
Updated 2026-08-10
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
A laboratory task from cognitive psychology used to quantify response inhibition, a core component of executive function. Participants perform a speeded go response, and on a minority of trials a stop signal appears instructing them to withhold it. The core proposition is that the ability to cancel an initiated action can be estimated as stop-signal reaction time from the delay at which cancellation succeeds half the time. The key qualification is that inhibition is measured independently of overall speed.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Brake measurement: quantify how quickly a person can cancel an action already started. - Group comparison: compare stop-signal reaction time across populations or after training. - Independence check: keep response speed and inhibition separate when interpreting results.
Anchor fast decisions
The go process races the stop process. When the stop signal arrives, the response is cancelled only if the stop process finishes first, and the delay between the go cue and the stop signal determines the race outcome. By tracking the delay at which cancellation succeeds about half the time, the finishing time of the stop process, and thus inhibitory speed, can be estimated from observable behavior.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Logan_(psychologistverified
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