Never too late to try this again, and train your inhibition capacity.

Young-old Quick! say aloud what color you see in every word, NOT the word you read.  

The Stroop test is used in neuropsychological evaluations to measure mental vitality and flexibility, since performing well requires strong inhibition capability.

Enjoy the day. You can enjoy many other Mind Teasers Here.

36 Responses to “Stroop Test: great Mind Teaser”
  1. [...] 1. Do you think you know the colors?: the Stroop Test [...]

  2. [...] 1. Do you think you know the colors?: the Stroop Test [...]

  3. Todd Lathamon 16 Dec 2006 at 2:38

    Easy at first, but you almost have to shout out the color towards the end to make sure you get it right!

  4. DigitalRichon 20 Dec 2006 at 1:20

    Weird- opposite for me. I had to slow down when it switched over, but then i developed a steady pattern that got me through no problem. Fun.

  5. Alvaroon 21 Dec 2006 at 2:05

    Great, you found the way to do it quickly!

  6. [...] Very fun day at the Serious Games Summit yesterday. I was part of a panel on Games that Change Behaviors or Teach Skills. We had 90-100 people in the room, who were willing to participate and do the Stroop test aloud to have some fun (many of them being in the military, they were pretty good!) and see how difficult it may be to inhibit learned behaviors. We reviewed the key elements in a powerful Brain Fitness Program such as Cogmed Working Memory Training (now for people with ADD/ ADHD), RoboMemo. Many interesting people, including from some military training academies, came to speak afterwards. Fun. [...]

  7. [...] - Inhibition: Stroop Test [...]

  8. Justineon 28 Jan 2007 at 1:19

    I've seen this exercise, and interestingly enough, it doesn't prove particularly challenging for people who's first language is not English.

  9. Alvaroon 29 Jan 2007 at 9:48

    Makes sense-because they haven't developed the automatic habit of identifying/ reading those words with the same strength.

  10. [...] 1. Do you think you know the colors?: the Stroop Test [...]

  11. chrison 12 Feb 2007 at 11:33

    hah the fastest way to do this isnt by slowing down, it is by letting go of yuor eyes focus, allow them to go blurry and only focus on the color spots you see.. ignore the now blurred hard-to-read text.

  12. Alvaroon 14 Feb 2007 at 6:07

    hi Chris, yes, that is a good strategy

  13. kyleon 25 Aug 2007 at 6:19

    very cool...almost made it through

  14. Bradon 16 Oct 2007 at 4:50

    I found that saying "I see" in my had before saying the color out loud gave me enough time to get it correct.

  15. Alvaroon 16 Oct 2007 at 8:15

    Kyle, try a couple more times, and am sure you'll do it full.

    Brad: yes, the extra time may help you there But try to do it faster :-)

  16. [...] 1. Do you think you know the colors?: try the Stroop Test. [...]

  17. [...] 1. Do you think you know the colors?: try the Stroop Test. [...]

  18. FreeBeeon 18 Oct 2007 at 5:58

    Hi,

    I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with Justine, who said that it may be less challenging to someone who isn't a native english speaker...

    I'm Dutch (from the Netherlands), and just like some of the others, I had to speak up, to make sure I was naming the colors, not the words.

    On the other hand, there may still be truth in Justine's remark, since I've been accused of being indistinguishable from a native english speaker. I've used the language for over 30 years now, although not exclusively.

  19. Alvaroon 18 Oct 2007 at 7:05

    Thanks for the comment, FreeBee. You are both right, in that the test is more difficult for English speakers, while it is difficult for everyone reading this (English-language) blo.

    For a, let's say, Chinese person who has never been exposed to English, it should be pretty easy.

  20. AAon 30 Oct 2007 at 11:42

    Basically, i shrinked my eyes and I was able to solve very quickly.

  21. Jazzon 06 Nov 2007 at 8:30

    What is this test supposed to do for our brain?

  22. Alvaroon 06 Nov 2007 at 7:51

    Jazz:

    1) simply provide a fun challenge

    2) used by an expert, assess one's capacity to control impulses

  23. pheyvinon 21 Nov 2007 at 2:01

    focusing only on the last letter of each word made it easier for me to identify the colors correctly.

  24. Ron 04 Jan 2008 at 9:30

    Liked it,its easier if you read the words in a different language than english.

  25. Danon 27 Jan 2008 at 6:58

    It got easier when I squinted and made my vision slightly blurry so that the words were difficult to read but the colors stood out.

  26. Asiron 19 Feb 2008 at 12:57

    me to .. i agree with Dan

  27. Joanon 25 Feb 2008 at 10:21

    I would like to see the test timed and indicate the number correct to see if I am making progress.

  28. Ishaon 02 Mar 2008 at 9:02

    I got through it fairly well by forcing my mind to focus only on the color I see and not even allowing myself to read the words.

  29. blau augenon 23 Mar 2008 at 11:14

    Quite easy and fun too :)

  30. Wayneon 01 Apr 2008 at 8:54

    This test has been interesting for me because after taking the test a few (5?) times over the last couple of years I have sort of "found a place in my mind" that allows me to do it correctly. It is a little struggle to get there but once "there" I can "hang on". It is an odd and interesting feeling. I remember almost shouting the words the first time I tried it.

  31. Ricardon 10 Apr 2008 at 4:47

    Adjust your eyes so that the words are too blurry to read, then recite the colors.

  32. Paton 16 May 2008 at 1:07

    How do you know for sure that you did it correctly? It felt correct to me, but if I missed one, how would I recognize that???

  33. saifon 05 Jun 2008 at 5:56

    Fun! blurring vision, for me taking off my glasses does the trick however, in my opinion its kinda cheating, as it defies the purpose

  34. kdton 15 Jun 2008 at 3:56

    I found squinting meant i could only see the colors, then it was easy as pie. Cheating? Maybe, but still using the ol' noggin :D

  35. Steveon 17 Jun 2008 at 1:30

    If you simply remember not to read and pretend you are looking at a picture of colors, just state the next color that pops in your mind. Your mind will automatically say the right word if you only concentrate on the color. The problem most people have is that they try to read the word first (silently) and then decide if it corresponds to the right color before they say it out loud. At that point they have to change what they were going to say if it's not the right word. That is why you can't read it.

  36. Lebogang Junioron 18 Jul 2008 at 12:08

    I never thought reading what you see is as difficult as saying what you see... Great stuff! I think I'll go for more! :-D

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