Counting Stroop
Number Variant
What is this?
Number words are repeated 1–4 times. Count how many you see while ignoring what the word says. When the word "THREE" appears twice, your automatic reading of the number word conflicts with the counting task, creating a measurable interference effect.
What does it measure?
Interference between counting and reading number words. This variant demonstrates that the Stroop effect extends beyond color naming — any automatic process (like reading number words) can interfere with a controlled task (like counting) when the two produce conflicting information.
How it works
- 1You will see a number word (ONE, TWO, THREE, or FOUR) displayed multiple times.
- 2Count how many copies of the word appear on screen.
- 3Ignore what the word says — only count the number of repetitions.
- 4For example, if "THREE" appears twice, the answer is 2.
Fun fact
The counting Stroop activates the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, a key region for conflict monitoring. Brain imaging studies using this task have been instrumental in mapping the neural networks responsible for detecting and resolving cognitive conflicts.