The Science Behind the Stroop Test
The Stroop Effect demonstrates a conflict in the brain's processing. Your brain reads words automatically and faster than it recognizes colors. When the word "RED" is printed in blue ink, your brain has to suppress the impulse to read "RED" in order to identify the color Blue. This delay is called "interference."
What does this test measure?
- Selective Attention: The ability to focus on one specific detail (color) while ignoring distractions (text).
- Cognitive Flexibility: How quickly your brain can switch between rules.
- Processing Speed: The reaction time between seeing the stimulus and clicking the answer.
How to get a high score?
A common trick used by speed-cubers and gamers is to slightly blur your vision. If you can't read the word clearly, your brain won't automatically process the text, allowing you to focus purely on the color.