Digital Corsi Block-Tapping Test (Forward & Backward)

This repository provides a digital implementation of the Corsi Block-Tapping Test, a well-established neuropsychological task used to assess visuospatial working memory.

The implementation is designed to be:

• experimentally sound
• reproducible
• suitable for research and educational use

The task is implemented in Python using Pygame and supports both Forward and Backward variants within a single codebase.

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🧠 Task Overview

In the Corsi Block-Tapping Test, a sequence of spatially distributed blocks is presented to the participant.
After the presentation, the participant must reproduce the sequence by clicking on the blocks.

Forward Version

• The sequence must be reproduced in the same order as presented.

Backward Version

• The sequence must be reproduced in reverse order.

The two versions share the same stimulus presentation and differ only in the response rule.

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🧪 Experimental Protocol

• Number of blocks: 9
• Starting span: 2
• Span increases by 1 after successful completion
• Each span consists of 2 independent trials
• If both trials are incorrect, the task terminates
• Maximum response time per trial: 10 seconds
• Visual feedback is provided after each trial
• An acoustic cue marks the transition from stimulus to response phase

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🎮 User Interaction

• Blocks are highlighted sequentially during stimulus presentation
• During the response phase, blocks briefly highlight on click
• The same block can be clicked multiple times during a response
• The task runs in fullscreen mode for controlled visual presentation

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📁 Output Data

For each trial, results are saved to a CSV file with trial-level granularity.

CSV Fields

• subject_id
• mode (forward / backward)
• span
• trial
• sequence_shown
• sequence_response
• correct
• timestamp

Example filename:

ABCDEF_corsi_forward_results.csv

Sequences are stored using the | separator (e.g. 2|5|7) to avoid automatic date conversion issues in spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel.

Result files are intentionally excluded from version control.

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▶️ How to Run

Requirements

• Python ≥ 3.8
• pygame
• numpy

Install dependencies:

pip install pygame numpy

Run the task:

python corsi_block_tapping_test.py

To switch between Forward and Backward versions, modify the MODE variable in the code:

MODE = "forward"   # or "backward"

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🔊 Audio Cue

An audio cue (start.wav) is played before the response phase to clearly signal task onset.
The audio file is included in the repository.

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⚠️ Notes on CSV and Excel

Spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel may automatically convert certain strings into dates.
To prevent this, sequences are stored using a non-date separator (|).

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📚 References

• Corsi, P. M. (1972). Human memory and the medial temporal region of the brain.
• Kessels, R. P. C., et al. (2000). The Corsi Block-Tapping Task: Standardization and normative data.

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📖 Citation

If you use this implementation in academic research, experiments, or publications,
please cite this repository as follows:

Di Cesare, M.G.
Digital Corsi Block-Tapping Test (Forward & Backward).
GitHub repository.
https://github.com/mgdicesare/corsi-block-tapping-test

Proper citation ensures reproducibility and acknowledges the original implementation.

📄 License

This project is intended for research and educational purposes.