What does the Flanker Test actually measure?

It measures selective attention and response inhibition by requiring you to ignore flanking arrows that conflict with the target.

Why are some rounds harder than others?

Incongruent trials, where flankers point opposite the center arrow, create response conflict that slows you down and increases errors.

Can I use this result to diagnose ADHD?

No. This is a screening aid for attention skills, not a clinical diagnostic tool for any medical condition.

How often should I retake the test?

Retesting weekly is reasonable for practice; daily sessions may show short-term fatigue effects rather than true change.

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Flanker Test

A row of arrows flashes on screen. Answer with the direction of the middle arrow, ignoring the ones on either side. When the side arrows point the other way they pull at your attention. Thirty-six rounds measure your accuracy, reaction time and the size of that interference.

Press Start to begin.

About the Flanker Test

This is the Eriksen flanker task, a classic measure of selective attention. Your only job is to report the direction of the centre arrow. The arrows around it are there to distract you. On congruent trials everything points the same way; on incongruent trials the flankers point the opposite way and compete with the target.

People are reliably slower and less accurate on incongruent trials. That slow-down is called the flanker effect, and it shows how much your brain has to work to suppress the distracting arrows. A small effect means strong focus; a large one means the surrounding information is harder to filter out.

Test your focus with the Stroop test · check your impulse control

About

The Flanker Test measures selective attention and the ability to suppress irrelevant visual information. You see a row of five arrows and must press the key that matches the direction of the center arrow only. The surrounding flankers either point the same way (congruent) or the opposite way (incongruent), forcing your brain to filter out the distractors before responding.

How your result is scored

Your result combines average reaction time and error rate across all trials. Faster responses with fewer mistakes indicate stronger inhibitory control and focused attention. Slower times or more errors on incongruent trials suggest greater difficulty ignoring competing stimuli.

Tips to improve

Fix your gaze on the center arrow before the trial starts.
Practice a few congruent-only rounds to build speed.
Take a brief break if you notice your error rate climbing.
Use the same finger for each direction to build motor consistency.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Flanker Test actually measure?: It measures selective attention and response inhibition by requiring you to ignore flanking arrows that conflict with the target.
Why are some rounds harder than others?: Incongruent trials, where flankers point opposite the center arrow, create response conflict that slows you down and increases errors.
Can I use this result to diagnose ADHD?: No. This is a screening aid for attention skills, not a clinical diagnostic tool for any medical condition.
How often should I retake the test?: Retesting weekly is reasonable for practice; daily sessions may show short-term fatigue effects rather than true change.