Comparing mixed and blocked visual search tasks
Official title: Prevalence Effects in Visual Search: Theoretical and Practical Implications
Run by Brigham and Women's Hospital · NCT06933693 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests how doing the same visual search task over and over compares to mixing different tasks to see which way helps people pay attention better.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Brigham and Women's Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 1, 2024 |
| Main results expected | June 1, 2029 |
| Study ends | June 30, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | August 19, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06933693 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are individuals who can pass the Ishihara color vision test and have normal or corrected vision.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with a history of neuromuscular or visual disorders or those with vision less than 20/25 with correction may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study investigates the differences in visual search behavior when participants perform the same search task repeatedly versus when they are presented with a mix of different tasks. Participants will engage in two conditions: a Mixed condition where tasks are randomly interchanged and a Blocked condition where each task is performed in a sequence of 100 trials. The goal is to understand how these different approaches to visual search may affect attention and performance. This experiment is part of a larger project funded by the National Cancer Institute, focusing on visual attention and search strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance our understanding of visual attention, potentially leading to improved strategies for training and rehabilitation in individuals with visual processing challenges.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of mixing and blocking visual search tasks is novel, similar studies have explored visual attention and search strategies with varying degrees of success.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Pass Ishihara color vision test Exclusion Criteria: * vision less than 20/25 with correction * history of neuromuscular or visual disorders
Where it's running
-
Brigham & Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jeremy M Wolfe, PhD — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Jeremy M Wolfe, PhD
- Email: jwolfe@bwh.harvard.edu
- Phone: 6178511166
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.