Stroop Effect

-named after J. Ridley Stroop

-described in the 1930s
-referred to these tests as RCNs or Reading Color Names
where participants were required to repeat the written word with
differing colored fonts
-and NCWs or Naming Colored Words where participants
were asked to verbally identify the color of each printed color
name
-Stroop noticed a large increase on the time take to complete the
NCW portion of the test
-doesnt improve with practice!
-theorized that there was interference caused by the
automatization of reading
-where the mind automatically determines the semantic
meaning of
the word and overrides its first impression which
is the identification
of the color
-in other words once we learn to read this takes
priority over
identifying something more simple as color (i.e.
RCN>NCW)

Stroop test #1 (NCW)

Read the color of the word

Piece of cake right??

Stroop test #2 (RCN)

Read the word and time yourself NOT
the color

Still easy right?

Stroop test #3
Now.. Read the color of the word
and time yourself NOT the word

Not so easy, eh??

The results
Reading a color is simple right?
Only when it matches the word!
When the color and word match its easy. Thats
RCN
But you are actually reading the word and NOT
the color RCN>NCW

But when the RCN and NCW are different you

slow down!!!

Number Stroop test

Read the word in the box

Set #1

cat
cat
cat
flag
flag
flag
cat
cat

pen
pen

car

door

car

door
door
door
door

hand
hand

door
door
door

ball
ball

pen
pen
pen
pen

car
car

ball
ball
ball
ball

hand
hand

flag
flag
flag

flag
flag

ball

hand
hand
hand

cat

pen
pen
pen

 Count the number of words in the box

Which task was easier/faster??
cat
cat
cat
flag
flag
flag
cat
cat

pen
pen

car

door

car

door
door
door
door

hand
hand

door
door
door

ball
ball

pen
pen
pen
pen

car
car

ball
ball
ball
ball

hand
hand

flag
flag
flag

flag
flag

ball

hand
hand
hand

cat

pen
pen
pen

Be honest You slowed down didnt

you?

 Againsay the words first

Then count the number of words in the box
three
three
two
two
two
one
one

one
one
one
one
three

two

four

two
two
two

four
four

two
two
two

three

four
four

one
one
one

three
three

two
two
two
two

four

three
three

one
one
one
one

four
four

two
two
two

one
one
one

Directional Stroop
Name the word in the box

 Give the Direction of the word in

the box
Is it on the top? On the left? Etc..

Again words take precedence?

Plus girls are lousy at right/left!
Dont laugh boys at least girls ask for

Stroop for kids

What is the animal? (dont read the word)

Aha! But you are still reading the word

Dont believe me??

 Read the word

 Now. Identify the animal again

The Stroop effect and Pain

Researchers have postulated the
Anterior Cingulate gyrus is also involved
in pain processing
Your perception of pain can be
decreased by performing the Stroop test
Dont believe me?
Have your partner repeat these tests
while you punch him/her!
JUST KIDDING!!!!!!