Can I run the Paired Associate Learning Task online?
Yes. ConductCognition runs the Paired Associate Learning Task in a browser-based participant flow with study setup, automated scoring, and export-ready results.
Episodic Memory
Paired Associate Learning Task
Assess visuospatial episodic memory and object-location binding in a hosted browser workflow.
Useful for hippocampal-memory research, aging studies, and episodic-memory batteries.
Episodic Memory6-8 minBrowser-based testing workflow
Remember which shape is in which box
What this task measures
Measures visuospatial episodic memory by asking participants to learn and recall the locations of patterns hidden in boxes on a grid.
Core constructs
- Visuospatial episodic memory
- Object-location binding
- Pattern recognition
- Associative learning
- Hippocampal function
Research fit
- Early Alzheimer's disease detection
- Mild cognitive impairment screening
- Medial temporal lobe function assessment
- Amnestic syndrome evaluation
- Pharmacological trial endpoints (cholinesterase inhibitors)
Why researchers use ConductCognition
- Hosted browser delivery with no local install burden for participants.
- Study setup, scoring, exports, and participant links in one workflow.
- Transparent pricing instead of opaque enterprise quoting for solo labs.
- Free entry tier plus Academic Pro when you need the full battery and trial-level exports.
Paradigm overview
The Paired Associate Learning task measures visuospatial episodic memory through object-location binding. Participants view a 3x3 grid of boxes that open one at a time to reveal colored patterns. After all boxes have been shown, a pattern appears in the center of the screen, and the participant must click the box where that pattern was located.
The task uses a progressive difficulty design across four stages: 2 patterns, 4 patterns, 6 patterns, and 8 patterns. At each stage, participants have up to 3 attempts to correctly locate all patterns. The task terminates early if all patterns are placed correctly on any attempt, otherwise continues until max attempts are exhausted.
PAL specifically measures the ability to form and retrieve object-location associations, a function critically dependent on the hippocampus and medial temporal lobe. It is one of the earliest tasks to show impairment in prodromal Alzheimer's disease and is part of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).
Key scoring outputs
Total Errors
countTotal number of incorrect pattern-location placements across all stages and attempts. Primary measure of learning efficiency.
Lower is better
Total Trials
countTotal number of pattern placement attempts across all stages.
Lower is better
First Trial Memory Score
countNumber of stages where all patterns were correctly placed on the first attempt. Measures immediate memory strength.
Higher is better
Stages Completed
countNumber of stages where all patterns were eventually learned (within max attempts).
Higher is better
Mean Response Latency
msAverage time to select a box location after pattern presentation.
Informational
Research evidence and scoring context
Llinares-Benadero C, et al. (2019). Normative data for the CANTAB battery in a Spanish sample of older adults. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, 11:36-44.
N 134957-84
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Related task pages
Research FAQ
Common questions about this online cognitive test
What does this test measure?
Paired Associate Learning Task is used for visuospatial episodic memory, object-location binding, pattern recognition research workflows.
What data can researchers export?
Researchers can export scored results, and paid plans support trial-level exports for deeper analysis.
Is this for clinical diagnosis?
ConductCognition is for research use. The platform supports task delivery, scoring, and exports; clinical interpretation remains outside the platform.