The Stroop Test measures cognitive processing speed, flexibility, and ability to inhibit automatic responses. It is named after John Ridley Stroop, who first published it in 1935. We commonly use the Stroop Test in our Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, cognitive processing, and learning disorders. It can also be a part of a more general battery designed for school and work performance and to suggest accommodations or interventions to tackle any challenges. The Trail-Making Test is a widely used neuropsychological evaluation for assessing processing speed, visual attention, and executive function, particularly cognitive flexibility and working memory. It assesses visual scanning, attention, and motor speed as well as cognitive flexibility, task-switching, and working memory.
We would be happy to discuss how the Stroop or Trail-Making Test might benefit you or your child, but first, we wanted to provide this general overview.
Stroop Test: Overview, Administration, and Use
In the classic Stroop effect test, individuals are presented with a list of color words (e.g., red, blue, green) written in incongruent colors (e.g., the word “red” written in blue ink). Participants are asked to name the color of the ink rather than reading the word. This creates a conflict between the automatic response to read the word and the intentional response to name the ink color. This interference has been proven to be related to the difficulties noted above and generally to executive functioning.
Stroop Effect Test Administration
Here’s more detail about how the Stroop test is administered:
- We explain the task, giving you an overview so you are prepared. We mention that you will see words written in different ink colors, and your task is to name the ink color as quickly and accurately as possible. We’ll answer any questions you have. Basically, the Stroop test is straightforward – it may not be easy, but you’ll likely know what you are supposed to do. You should complete the task, balancing speed and accuracy as best you can.
- We begin with a practice round to ensure you understand the task. We’ll show you a card with color words written in incongruent colors (e.g., the word “RED” written in blue ink) and ask you to say the color of the ink, not the word itself. Due to practice effects – the idea that if you get too much practice, your results will not be valid – we can only do one practice round. Most people do understand the task after that.
- Next, we administer the assessment rounds. We will present a series of Stroop test cards, varying between congruent (word and ink color match) and incongruent (word and ink color mismatch) conditions. We record the time it takes you to name the ink colors correctly. No one is expected to do this perfectly. If you make an error, we will correct you and proceed to the next trial.
Stroop Effecty Test Scoring and Interpretation
We calculate the time taken for each trial to score the Stroop effect test. We record the time for each individual trial and then add the total time taken for all trials. Higher interference times (on the “incongruent trials” described above) may indicate difficulty suppressing automatic responses. This is indicative of both ADHD and anxiety.
Notes about Virtual Administration
The Stroop test can be given as part of a virtual assessment, but it requires you to be able to see the screen clearly. This can be a little harder than having the page in front of you, and we note that in our reports. In addition, virtual administration of the Stroop test may be either more or less stressful, depending on your preference. We might ask for your thoughts about that and note them in our report as well. 
Uses of the Stroop Effect Test
The Stroop Test is often used to assess cognitive functions such as attention, selective attention, and cognitive flexibility. It is usually given as part of a larger battery. Here are more specific ways we use it:
Measuring Cognitive Functioning with the Stroop Test
This measure is most often used to assess different aspects of cognitive functioning, including attention, selective attention, and cognitive flexibility. Thus, it helps diagnose ADHD and other executive functioning impairments that can interfere with school and work. It can be a part of a battery that can suggest accommodations and interventions to help students or employees reach their potential. In most cases, the Stroop effect test is not enough to fully suggest a diagnosis or to get formal accommodations, but as part of a larger battery, it can be quite helpful.
Psychological Disorders and Mental Health
The Stroop effect test has been utilized in the study of various psychological disorders beyond executive functioning concerns, including anxiety disorders and mood disorders. It provides insights into the cognitive aspects of these conditions, and like the above, it can be used to suggest accommodations and interventions that help students and employees. As noted above, the test alone may not provide a firm diagnosis, but it can often help you understand how a known or suspected diagnosis specifically affects you.
Self-Improvement with the Stroop
Executive functions, which involve processes such as planning, problem-solving, and cognitive control, can be assessed using the Stroop test. It provides information on an individual’s ability to switch between tasks and inhibit irrelevant information. This type of assessment can be used by people who want to design strategies to function better in all aspects of their lives, whether or not they have a formal diagnosis. It can be repeated over time to measure the effectiveness of your strategies.
Assessment of Treatment Efficacy
Once a student or employee has been diagnosed with a condition that requires accommodations or interventions, the Stroop effect test can be given at certain intervals to assess the effectiveness of interventions or treatments targeting cognitive functions. Changes in performance may indicate whether the interventions are working.
Overall, the Stroop effect test is a versatile tool that provides valuable insights into various aspects of cognitive functioning and mental health. It is commonly used, given how simple it is to administer, score, and interpret and how scientifically proven and accepted it is.
Trail-Making Test: Overview, Administration, and Use
TheTrail-Making Test (TMT) is a widely used neuropsychological assessment designed to measure processing speed, cognitive flexibility, visual attention, and executive functioning. It is frequently included in assessments for conditions such as ADHD, autism, dementia, and other neurological disorders.
Trail-Making Test Components
The TMT consists of two parts:
Part A (TMT-A) The test-taker connects numbered circles (1 → 2 → 3… 25) in ascending order as quickly and accurately as possible.
Measures: Processing speed, visual search, and motor coordination.
Time: Typically completed in 30–90 seconds.
Part B (TMT-B)The test-taker alternates between numbers and letters in sequential order (1 → A → 2 → B → 3 → C… 13 → L).
Measures: Executive functioning, cognitive flexibility, and working memory.
Time: Typically completed in 75–270 seconds.
Trail-Making Test Administration
The test is paper-and-pencil-based and can be administered by psychologists, neuropsychologists, or trained professionals.
Instructions:
We provide a sample page for each part to ensure the test-taker understands the task. The test-taker is instructed to complete the task quickly and accurately. Errors must be corrected before continuing, but we do not give hints on errors. Time is recorded from the moment the test-taker starts to when they complete the final connection. Scoring Primary Score: Total time (in seconds) taken to complete each part.
Error Analysis:
Number and types of errors (e.g., omissions, incorrect sequences). TMT-B Minus TMT-A (B-A Difference Score): Reflects executive functioning specifically by subtracting the Part A time from Part B time.
Normative Comparison:
Scores are compared to age, education, and population norms.
Interpretation & Use
The TMT is used in clinical, forensic testing, and research settings to assess cognitive functioning.
Key Trail-Making Test Interpretations
- Longer completion time or errors → May indicate cognitive impairment, executive dysfunction, or attention deficits.
- TMT-A prolonged → May suggest slowed processing speed or visual-motor deficits.
- TMT-B prolonged → Suggests deficits in executive function, cognitive flexibility, or working memory.
- High B-A difference score → More difficulty with cognitive flexibility and task-switching.
Common Clinical Uses
- ADHD & Autism → Assesses executive function deficits (working memory, task-switching, attention).
- Anxiety → Assesses the effect of anxiety on cognitive performance.
- Dementia (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Vascular Dementia) → Helps detect early cognitive decline.
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) & Stroke → Identifies impairments in processing speed and executive functioning.
- Substance Use Disorders → Evaluates cognitive impact of substance abuse on executive function.
Trail-Making Test Advantages and Limitations
✔️ Quick and easy to administer
✔️ Non-verbal (useful for individuals with language deficits)
✔️ Sensitive to a range of cognitive impairments.
❌ Affected by age, education, and motor skills
❌ Not diagnostic alone; should be used alongside other assessments
❌ Performance can be influenced by anxiety or test-taking pressure.
Case Study: Stroop Effect and Trail-Making Test for ADHD
Alex is a -year-old college junior majoring in engineering. He was diagnosed with ADHD (predominantly inattentive presentation) at age . He struggles with focus, organization, and completing tasks efficiently, particularly in timed academic settings. Recently, he sought neuropsychological testing to better understand his cognitive challenges and explore college accommodations.
Stroop Effect and Trail-Making Test Findings
Stroop Test Findings
The Stroop Test measures cognitive flexibility, processing speed, and response inhibition.
- Word Reading (Baseline Processing Speed): Alex read color names printed in black ink at an average speed, within the normal range.
- Color Naming (Simple Attention and Processing Speed): Alex named ink colors of non-word stimuli (e.g., red ink = red) slightly below average, showing mild difficulty with processing speed.
- Incongruent Condition (Executive Control – Response Inhibition & Cognitive Flexibility): When required to name the ink color of a mismatched color word (e.g., RED printed in blue ink), Alex showed significant difficulty, with increased errors and slow response times.
Interpretation:
These results indicate weak response inhibition and susceptibility to interference, which align with executive function challenges in ADHD. Alex struggled to suppress the automatic reading response and name the ink color accurately.
Trail Making Test (TMT) Findings
The TMT assesses visual attention, cognitive flexibility, and processing speed.
- TMT-A (Speed & Visual Scanning):Alex was asked to connect numbers in ascending order ( → → , etc.). He completed the task slower than average but without errors, indicating mild processing speed deficits.
- TMT-B (Cognitive Flexibility & Working Memory):Alex was required to alternate between numbers and letters in sequence ( → A → → B → → C, etc.). His performance was significantly below average, with multiple errors and the need for repeated instructions.
Interpretation:
Alex exhibited poor cognitive flexibility and working memory deficits, consistent with ADHD-related executive dysfunction. He struggled with task switching and maintaining sequential order under cognitive load.
Summary of Findings
Alex’s Stroop and TMT performance indicate executive function impairments, particularly in response inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and processing speed. These deficits contribute to his struggles with completing assignments efficiently, switching between tasks, and managing distractions in academic settings.
Recommendations for Accommodations
Based on his test results, we suggested that Alex may benefit from:
✔ Extended time on exams to account for slower processing speed
✔ Distraction-reduced testing environment to minimize interference
✔ Lecture recordings or note-taking support to accommodate attention difficulties
✔ Task management coaching (e.g., breaking down assignments into steps).
This case illustrates how the Stroop Test and TMT can provide insight into ADHD-related executive function challenges in young adults.
Summary and Conclusions
The Stroop effect and Trail Making Test measures are widely used instruments that is often used as part of a larger battery to measure some aspect of executive functioning or mental health. They are most commonly associated with testing for ADHD, but it has many uses beyond that. It is also used in research settings, given that it can be repeated to measure the effectiveness of interventions. The advantages of the Stroop test are that it can be given virtually and it has been used for many years. It is scientifically proven, very accepted, and easy to administer.
The Stroop Test in Our Practice
We use the Stroop Effect and Trail-Making Test measures in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and some mental health diagnoses, and also in some specialty areas such as testing for athletes, testing for extended time on the SAT and other exams, and emotional dysregulation testing. It is rarely used as a standalone unless someone has already had a psychological battery and is looking for more specific results. In most cases, we give the Stroop and Trail-Making test virtually, often noting the caveats we listed in the post above. We commonly repeat them for those looking to see if interventions, accommodations, and other efforts are working as expected.
We would be happy to talk to you about how these measures might benefit you or your child, or more generally, about a psychological assessment that might include the Stroop effect test or Trail-Making Test. Please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact us at any time.
