Multiple Object Tracking (MOT)

The Multiple Object Tracking task, based on the paradigm developed by Pylyshyn and Storm, assesses dynamic visual attention and working memory capacity. Participants must track a subset of moving objects (targets) among identical distractors as all objects move independently around the screen, bouncing off boundaries and each other. At the start of each trial, target objects are briefly highlighted in yellow, then all objects become identical green circles and move for several seconds. After movement stops, participants click to select which objects were the original targets. The task varies the number of targets to track (typically 2-4) and measures tracking accuracy. This task is useful for studying attention capacity limits, individual differences in multitasking ability, and effects of aging or cognitive load on dynamic attention.
