Stop Signal

Stop Signal is built on the Go/No-Go paradigm, a standard measure of response inhibition — your ability to hold back an action you are primed to make. Most stimuli say “go”, so you build up a habit of responding; the occasional “stop” signal forces you to cancel that response at the last moment. It is used widely in psychology and neuroscience research on impulse control and attention.

Cognitive domain: Executive Control

A signal flashes in the center: a green GO means tap as fast as you can; a red STOP means do nothing and wait it out. Each signal is shown briefly before the next. Getting a STOP right means successfully NOT tapping — the hard part, because most signals are GO.

You play a fixed set of 30 signals; your score is how many you handle correctly — tapping the GOs and holding on the STOPs. On the MindSprint scale, a near-perfect run maps to the top. Tapping a STOP (a false alarm) and missing a GO both simply fail to score, so accuracy on the rare STOPs is what separates a good run.

• Stay fast on GO but keep something in reserve — the STOP can come at any time.
• Do not settle into a pure rhythm; rhythm is what makes you tap through a STOP.
• A missed STOP costs more than a slightly slower GO — protect against false alarms.
• Reset your attention after each signal instead of anticipating the next.

What does Go/No-Go measure?

Response inhibition — how well you can withhold a prepared action, a core part of impulse control.

Why are most signals GO?

The frequent GOs build a response habit, so the occasional STOP genuinely tests your ability to cancel it.

Is it used in research?

Yes — it is a common task in studies of attention, impulsivity, and executive function.