MouseTracker: Software for studying real-time mental processing using a computer mouse-tracking method
MouseTracker: Software for studying real-time mental processing using a computer mouse-tracking method
复制标题
DOI：
10.3758/brm.42.1.226
复制
发表时间：
2010-02-01
影响因子：
5.4
通讯作者：
Ambady, Nalini
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Freeman, Jonathan B.;Ambady, Nalini
在本文中，我们提出了一个软件包 MouseTracker，它允许研究人员使用计算机鼠标跟踪方法来评估心理任务的实时处理。当参与者将鼠标移动到多种响应选项之一时，通过记录计算机鼠标的流式 x、y 坐标，手部的运动动力学可以揭示心理过程的时间过程。 MouseTracker 通过以每秒 60-75 次的速度对多个响应选项之间的在线竞争进行采样，为研究人员提供有关参与者响应实时演变的细粒度信息。 MouseTracker 允许研究人员开发和运行实验，然后在用户交互式、基于图形的环境中分析鼠标轨迹。实验可以结合图像、字符串和声音。可以对鼠标轨迹进行处理、平均、可视化和探索，并且可以计算空间吸引力/曲率、复杂性、速度和加速度的测量值。我们描述了软件和方法，并提供了鼠标轨迹分析的详细信息。我们通过展示其轨迹和反应时间数据的准确性和可靠性来验证该软件。最新版本的 MouseTracker 可在 http://mousetracker.jbfreeman.net 上免费获取。
In the present article, we present a software package, MouseTracker, that allows researchers to use a computer mouse-tracking method for assessing real-time processing in psychological tasks. By recording the streaming x-, y-coordinates of the computer mouse while participants move the mouse into one of multiple response alternatives, motor dynamics of the hand can reveal the time course of mental processes. MouseTracker provides researchers with fine-grained information about the real-time evolution of participant responses by sampling 60-75 times/sec the online competition between multiple response alternatives. MouseTracker allows researchers to develop and run experiments and subsequently analyze mouse trajectories in a user-interactive, graphics-based environment. Experiments may incorporate images, letter strings, and sounds. Mouse trajectories can be processed, averaged, visualized, and explored, and measures of spatial attraction/curvature, complexity, velocity, and acceleration can be computed. We describe the software and the method, and we provide details on mouse trajectory analysis. We validate the software by demonstrating the accuracy and reliability of its trajectory and reaction time data. The latest version of MouseTracker is freely available at http://mousetracker.jbfreeman.net.