The Stroop Test: Why Reading Gets in the Way
You see the word BLUE written in red ink. The task is to pick the colour of the ink, not the word. It sounds easy, yet it is slower and more error-prone than it should be, because reading is automatic and you have to hold it back. This effect was described by John Ridley Stroop in 1935.
How to play
- A colour word appears on screen in a coloured ink.
- Tap the button that matches the ink colour: Red, Blue, Green or Yellow.
- Your score goes up with each correct answer, and your best score is saved on this device.
Why it is hard
When the word and the ink disagree, two responses compete: reading the word, which is automatic, and naming the colour, which takes effort. Psychologists use this task as a classic example of interference and inhibitory control, which is the ability to suppress an automatic response.
Tips
- Soften your gaze and look slightly past the word so that you notice the colour first.
- Say the colour silently before you tap.
- Accuracy first, then speed. Rushing makes the automatic response win.
Things to keep in mind
This is a casual game and not a clinical test. If you have colour-vision deficiency, red and green items can be hard to tell apart, and that is about perception rather than focus.
Common questions
Is this a diagnostic test?
No. It is a short attention game for fun and practice, not a medical or psychological assessment.
Why is it slower when word and colour differ?
Because you have to suppress automatic reading while you name the colour. That conflict takes extra processing time.
Are my scores saved?
Your best score is stored locally on your device only.
Calm & Focus tools are for relaxation and self-awareness, not medical diagnosis or treatment.