Go/No-Go Reaction Test
Measure your cognitive inhibition and impulse control
Go/No-Go Reaction Test
Test your impulse control and inhibition
10 trials • 80% GO • 20% NO-GO
What This Test Measures
About the Go/No-Go Test
The Go/No-Go test is a cognitive assessment that measures response inhibition and impulse control. It evaluates your ability to execute a response when appropriate (GO signal) and withhold a response when necessary (NO-GO signal). This test is commonly used in neuropsychological assessments and research on executive function.
How It Works
GO Signal (Green)
Click as quickly as possible when you see the green circle. This measures your reaction time and processing speed.
NO-GO Signal (Red)
Do NOT click when you see the red circle. This measures your ability to inhibit prepotent responses.
Test Structure: 10 trials total with 80% GO signals and 20% NO-GO signals, presented in random order with variable delays between 1.5-4 seconds.
Clinical Applications
The Go/No-Go test is widely used in research and clinical settings to assess:
- •ADHD: Individuals with ADHD often show impaired performance on inhibition tasks
- •Executive Function: Measures frontal lobe function and cognitive control
- •Neurological Conditions: Useful for assessing brain injury, Parkinson's, and other disorders
- •Impulse Control Disorders: Helps evaluate self-regulation abilities
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Go/No-Go reaction test measure?
It measures response inhibition and impulse control: your ability to respond quickly to "Go" signals while withholding your response to "No-Go" signals. Performance reflects how well your brain can suppress a prepotent, automatic action.
What is response inhibition?
Response inhibition is the cognitive ability to suppress an action that is no longer appropriate or that would be inappropriate to perform. It is a core component of executive function and is largely supported by the prefrontal cortex.
What counts as a good Go/No-Go score?
Strong performance combines high accuracy with fast Go reaction times. A low number of "commission errors" (clicking on No-Go signals) indicates good impulse control, while fast, accurate Go responses indicate efficient processing speed.
Why is the No-Go signal less frequent than the Go signal?
Because Go signals appear far more often (around 80% of trials), you build a strong habit of responding. This makes withholding a response on the rarer No-Go trials genuinely difficult, so the test can sensitively probe your inhibitory control.