What is response inhibition?

Response inhibition is the ability to consciously suppress inappropriate or unnecessary actions. It's a crucial cognitive function for controlling impulsive reactions and choosing appropriate behaviors based on the situation.

What cognitive abilities does the Go/No-Go task measure?

The Go/No-Go task primarily measures response inhibition (ability to stop automatic responses), sustained attention, processing speed, and executive function. It's particularly important as a measure for ADHD assessment.

How can I improve my score?

Focus your attention on quickly distinguishing the colors, stay relaxed without rushing, and practice regularly. Especially focus on practicing stopping your response when you see the No-Go stimulus (red).

Go/No-Go Task Explained: The Science of Response Inhibition [2026 Guide]

Q: What is the Go/No-Go task?

The Go/No-Go task is a cognitive test where you respond quickly to certain stimuli (Go stimuli) while inhibiting responses to other stimuli (No-Go stimuli). It's widely used in psychology research and clinical assessment to measure response inhibition and executive function.

Q: What are hit rate and false alarm rate?

Hit rate is the percentage of correct responses to Go stimuli, while false alarm rate is the percentage of incorrect responses to No-Go stimuli. A high hit rate combined with a low false alarm rate indicates optimal performance.

What is the Go/No-Go Task?

The Go/No-Go task is a test of response inhibition widely used in cognitive psychology and neuroscience. The rules are simple: tap quickly when you see a green Go stimulus, but resist and don't respond to a red No-Go stimulus. Yet when you actually play, you'll discover it's more challenging than expected.

This task is an important tool in cognitive science that reveals how our brains control whether to "act" or "stop acting."

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Scientific Background

Origins of Reaction Time Research

The foundation of the Go/No-Go task was established in 1868 by Dutch physiologist Franciscus Cornelis Donders. Donders invented a technique called the "Subtraction Method" that allowed researchers to measure the time taken by cognitive processes.

Donders designed three types of reaction tasks:

A-task (Simple Reaction Time): Respond when any stimulus appears
C-task (Go/No-Go Task): Respond only to specific stimuli
B-task (Choice Reaction Time): Make different responses to different stimuli

This research showed that subtracting the A-task from the C-task estimates the time for "stimulus discrimination," while subtracting the C-task from the B-task estimates the time for "response selection."

The Birth of Cognitive Psychology

Donders' research was groundbreaking in demonstrating that mental process times could be measured. This methodology became the foundation of modern cognitive psychology and neuroscience.

The Mechanism of Response Inhibition

Response inhibition is a core component of executive function. Neuroscience research has identified the following brain regions involved in response inhibition:

Right Inferior Frontal Gyrus (rIFG): Identified as the primary region for response inhibition
Pre-Supplementary Motor Area (pre-SMA): Control of action initiation and stopping
Basal Ganglia: Coordination of action selection and inhibition
Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC): Error detection and monitoring

The right inferior frontal gyrus plays a particularly crucial role in sending the "stop" signal for responses.

ADHD and Response Inhibition

The Go/No-Go task is widely used in ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) research and clinical assessment. People with ADHD often show difficulty with response inhibition and tend to have higher false alarm rates (erroneous responses) to No-Go stimuli.

Research has reported the following:

Children with ADHD tend to have more response inhibition errors
Sex differences are also observed, with different patterns of inhibitory control
Activity patterns in the right inferior frontal gyrus are utilized in ADHD diagnosis and research

Cognitive Abilities Measured

Response Inhibition

The ability to consciously stop inappropriate responses. Essential for preventing impulsive behavior.

Sustained Attention

The ability to maintain focus on a task over time. Necessary to avoid missing Go stimuli.

Processing Speed

The ability to quickly identify stimuli and select appropriate responses. Directly affects reaction time.

Executive Function

Higher cognitive functions for planning, monitoring, and controlling behavior to achieve goals.

How to Play

Start the Game
Click the "Start" button to begin. You have 45 seconds to make as many correct decisions as possible.
Respond to Go Stimuli
When a green circle (Go stimulus) appears, quickly tap the screen or press the Space key.
Ignore No-Go Stimuli
When a red circle (No-Go stimulus) appears, resist and don't tap. Not pressing anything is the correct response.
Check Your Results
After the game ends, you'll see your accuracy, hit rate, false alarm rate, and average reaction time.

Score Guide

Accuracy	Level	Description
90%+	Excellent	Outstanding response inhibition ability
80-89%	Good	High inhibitory control
70-79%	Average	Typical performance
Under 70%	Practice Needed	Response inhibition training would be beneficial

Understanding Performance Metrics

Several metrics are displayed at the end of the game:

Hit Rate

The percentage of correct responses to Go stimuli. Higher is better, reflecting sustained attention.

False Alarm Rate

The percentage of incorrect responses to No-Go stimuli. Lower is better, reflecting response inhibition ability.

Average Reaction Time

The average time (in milliseconds) for correct responses to Go stimuli. Reflects processing speed.

Balance is Key

Pursuing only a high hit rate will increase false alarms. Conversely, focusing too much on inhibition will lower your hit rate. Balancing both is the key to optimal performance.

Tips and Strategies

Don't Create a Rhythm - If you respond at a constant rhythm, you're likely to respond to No-Go stimuli as well. Judge each stimulus individually.
Focus on Color - Concentrate on color discrimination to react quickly to the difference between green and red.
Don't Rush - Pursuing speed too aggressively makes inhibition difficult. Be mindful of the balance with accuracy.
Aim for Streaks - Maintaining streaks increases focus and leads to stable performance.
Take Breaks - Sustained attention has limits. Take breaks when you feel tired.

Clinical and Research Applications

The Go/No-Go task is widely used in the following fields:

Clinical Assessment

ADHD: Evaluating difficulty with response inhibition
Impulse Control Disorders: Measuring impulsivity
Substance Dependence: Assessing inhibitory control
Schizophrenia: Evaluating executive function

Research Areas

Neural mechanisms of response inhibition
Developmental changes in inhibitory control
Relationship between aging and cognitive function
Evaluating treatment effectiveness

Combining with Dual N-Back

The Go/No-Go task and Dual N-Back both train executive function but focus on different aspects.

Feature	Go/No-Go Task	Dual N-Back
Primary Target	Response inhibition	Working memory
Cognitive Load	Action suppression	Information retention and updating
Time Frame	Momentary decisions	Sequential memory (N steps back)
Session Length	45 seconds	15-20 minutes

Combining both allows you to comprehensively train different aspects of executive function.

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Conclusion

The Go/No-Go task is a fundamental paradigm in cognitive psychology with origins in Donders' 1868 research. Despite its simple rules, it measures and trains response inhibition—a cognitive function closely related to our daily lives.

The ability to control impulsive behavior is useful in all situations: work, learning, and relationships. Challenge yourself with the Go/No-Go task and test your response inhibition abilities!

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