# jsPsych --- ## initJsPsych ```javascript var jsPsych = initJsPsych(settings); ``` ### Parameters | Parameter | Type | Description | | --------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------- | | settings | object | The settings object for initializing jsPsych. See table below. | The settings object can contain several parameters. None of the parameters are required. | Parameter | Type | Description | | -------------------------- | -------- | ---------------------------------------- | | display_element | string | The ID of an HTML element to display the experiment in. If left blank, jsPsych will use the `` element to display content. All keyboard event listeners are bound to this element. In order for a keyboard event to be detected, this element must have focus (be the last thing that the participant clicked on). | | on_finish | function | Function to execute when the experiment ends. | | on_trial_start | function | Function to execute when a new trial begins. | | on_trial_finish | function | Function to execute when a trial ends. | | on_data_update | function | Function to execute every time data is stored using the `jsPsych.data.write` method. All plugins use this method to save data (via a call to `jsPsych.finishTrial`, so this function runs every time a plugin stores new data. | | on_interaction_data_update | function | Function to execute every time a new interaction event occurs. Interaction events include clicking on a different window (blur), returning to the experiment window (focus), entering full screen mode (fullscreenenter), and exiting full screen mode (fullscreenexit). | | on_close | function | Function to execute when the user leaves the page. Can be used, for example, to save data before the page is closed. | | show_progress_bar | boolean | If `true`, then [a progress bar](../overview/progress-bar.md) is shown at the top of the page. Default is `false`. | | message_progress_bar | string or function | Message to display next to the progress bar or a function that returns that message. The default is 'Completion Progress'. If `message_progress_bar` is a function, it receives one single argument which is the current progress, ranging from 0 to 1; the function gets called on every progress bar update automatically. | | auto_update_progress_bar | boolean | If true, then the progress bar at the top of the page will automatically update as every top-level timeline or trial is completed. | | use_webaudio | boolean | If false, then jsPsych will not attempt to use the WebAudio API for audio playback. Instead, HTML5 Audio objects will be used. The WebAudio API offers more precise control over the timing of audio events, and should be used when possible. The default value is `true`. | | default_iti | numeric | The default inter-trial interval in ms. The default value if none is specified is 0ms. | | experiment_width | numeric | The desired width of the jsPsych container in pixels. If left undefined, the width will be 100% of the display element. Usually this is the `` element, and the width will be 100% of the screen size. | | minimum_valid_rt | numeric | The minimum valid response time for key presses during the experiment. Any key press response time that is less than this value will be treated as invalid and ignored. Note that this parameter only applies to _keyboard responses_, and not to other response types such as buttons and sliders. The default value is 0. | | override_safe_mode | boolean | Running a jsPsych experiment directly in a web browser (e.g., by double clicking on a local HTML file) will load the page using the `file://` protocol. Some features of jsPsych don't work with this protocol. By default, when jsPsych detects that it's running on a page loaded via the `file://` protocol, it runs in _safe mode_, which automatically disables features that don't work in this context. Specifically, the use of Web Audio is disabled (audio will be played using HTML5 audio instead, even if `use_webaudio` is `true`) and video preloading is disabled. The `override_safe_mode` parameter defaults to `false`, but you can set it to `true` to force these features to operate under the `file://` protocol. In order for this to work, you will need to disable web security (CORS) features in your browser - this is safe to do if you know what you are doing. Note that this parameter has no effect when you are running the experiment on a web server, because the page will be loaded via the `http://` or `https://` protocol. | | case_sensitive_responses | boolean | If `true`, then jsPsych will make a distinction between uppercase and lowercase keys when evaluating keyboard responses, e.g. "A" (uppercase) will not be recognized as a valid response if the trial only accepts "a" (lowercase). If false, then jsPsych will not make a distinction between uppercase and lowercase keyboard responses, e.g. both "a" and "A" responses will be valid when the trial's key choice parameter is "a". Setting this parameter to false is useful if you want key responses to be treated the same way when CapsLock is turned on or the Shift key is held down. The default value is `false`. | extensions | array | Array containing information about one or more jsPsych extensions that are used during the experiment. Each extension should be specified as an object with `type` (required), which is the name of the extension, and `params` (optional), which is an object containing any parameter-value pairs to be passed to the extension's `initialize` function. Default value is an empty array. | ### Return value Returns a jsPsych instance, which all jsPsych methods on this page are called on. Therefore it is not possible to call any of the jsPsych methods listed on this page until this `initJsPsych` function is called and a jsPsych instance is created. ### Description This function initializes jsPsych with the specified experiment settings. ### Example ```javascript var jsPsych = initJsPsych({ on_finish: function() { jsPsych.data.displayData(); }, show_progress_bar: true, default_iti: 500 }); ``` For more examples, see the HTML files in the [examples folder](https://github.com/jspsych/jsPsych/tree/main/examples). --- ## jsPsych.abortCurrentTimeline ```javascript jsPsych.abortCurrentTimeline() ``` ### Parameters None. ### Return value None. ### Description Ends the current timeline. If timelines are nested, then only the timeline that contains the current trial is ended. ### Example #### Abort timeline if a particular key is pressed ```javascript var jsPsych = initJsPsych({ on_finish: function() { jsPsych.data.displayData(); } }); var images = [ "img/1.gif", "img/2.gif", "img/3.gif", "img/4.gif", "img/5.gif", "img/6.gif", "img/7.gif", "img/8.gif", "img/9.gif", "img/10.gif" ]; var trials = []; for (var i = 0; i < images.length; i++) { trials.push({ stimulus: images[i] }); } var block = { type: jsPsychImageKeyboardResponse, choices: ['y', 'n'], prompt: '

Press "y" to Continue. Press "n" to end this node of the experiment.

', on_finish: function(data) { if (jsPsych.pluginAPI.compareKeys(data.response, 'n')) { jsPsych.abortCurrentTimeline(); } }, timeline: trials } var after_block = { type: jsPsychHtmlKeyboardResponse, stimulus: '

The next node

' } jsPsych.run([block, after_block]); ``` --- ## jsPsych.abortExperiment ```javascript jsPsych.abortExperiment(message, data) ``` ### Parameters | Parameter | Type | Description | | ----------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------- | | message | string | A message to display on the screen after the experiment is over. Can include HTML formatting. | | data | object | An optional object of key-value pairs to store as data in the final trial of the experiment. ### Return value None. ### Description Ends the experiment, skipping all remaining trials. If the `on_finish` event handler for `jsPsych` returns a `Promise` then the `message` will not be displayed until the promise is resolved. ### Example #### End the experiment if a particular response is given ```javascript var trial = { type: jsPsychImageKeyboardResponse, stimulus: 'image1.jpg', choices: ['y', 'n'], prompt: '

Press "y" to Continue. Press "n" to end the experiment

', on_finish: function(data){ if(jsPsych.pluginAPI.compareKeys(data.response, "n")){ jsPsych.abortExperiment('The experiment was ended by pressing "n".'); } } } ``` --- ## jsPsych.abortTimelineByName ```javascript jsPsych.abortTimelineByName() ``` ### Parameters | Parameter | Type | Description | | --------------- | -------- | ---------------------------------------- | | name | string | The name of the timeline to abort. | ### Return value None. ### Description Ends the currently active timeline that matches the `name` parameter. This can be used to control which level is aborted in a nested timeline structure. ### Example #### Abort a procedure if an incorrect response is given. ```javascript const fixation = { type: jsPsychHtmlKeyboardResponse, stimulus: '

', choices: "NO_KEYS", trial_duration: 1000 } const test = { type: jsPsychImageKeyboardResponse, stimulus: jsPsych.timelineVariable('stimulus'), choices: ['y', 'n'], on_finish: function(data){ if(jsPsych.pluginAPI.compareKeys(data.response, "n")){ jsPsych.abortTimelineByName('memory_test'); } } } const memoryResponseProcedure = { timeline: [fixation, test] } // the variable `encode` is not shown, but imagine a trial that displays // some stimulus to remember. const memoryEncodeProcedure = { timeline: [fixation, encode] } const memoryTestProcedure = { timeline: [memoryEncodeProcedure, memoryResponseProcedure] name: 'memory_test', timeline_variables: [ {stimulus: 'image1.png'}, {stimulus: 'image2.png'}, {stimulus: 'image3.png'}, {stimulus: 'image4.png'} ] } ``` --- ## jsPsych.evaluateTimelineVariable ```js jsPsych.evaluateTimelineVariable(variable_name) ``` ### Parameters | Parameter | Type | Description | | --------- | ---- | ----------- | | variable_name | string | The name of the variable to evaluate. | ### Return value Returns the current value of the corresponding timeline variable. ### Description Unlike `jsPsych.timelineVariable()`, `evaluateTimelineVariable()` immediately returns the current value of the timeline variable. It should be used whenever you are in a context where immediate evaluation is appropriate. For example, if you referencing a timeline variable within a function, immediate evaluation is usually correct. ### Examples #### Invoking timeline variables immediately in a function ```javascript const trial = { type: jsPsychHtmlKeyboardResponse, stimulus: function(){ return `

`; } } const procedure = { timeline: [trial], timeline_variables: [ {image: 'face1.png'}, {image: 'face2.png'}, {image: 'face3.png'}, {image: 'face4.png'} ] } ``` --- ## jsPsych.finishTrial ```javascript jsPsych.finishTrial(data) ``` ### Parameters | Parameter | Type | Description | | --------- | ------ | -------------------------------- | | data | object | The data to store for the trial. | ### Return value Returns nothing. ### Description This method tells jsPsych that the current trial is over. It is used in all of the plugins to end the current trial. When the trial ends, a few things happen: * The data is stored using `jsPsych.data.write()` * The `on_finish` callback function is executed for the trial * The `on_trial_finish` callback function is executed * The display element is cleared, and any timeouts that are pending are cleared. * The progress bar is updated if it is being displayed * The experiment ends if the trial is the last one (and the `on_finish` callback function is executed). * The next trial, if one exists, is started. ### Example ```javascript // this code would be in a plugin jsPsych.finishTrial({correct_response: true}); ``` --- ## jsPsych.getCurrentTrial ```javascript jsPsych.getCurrentTrial() ``` ### Parameters None. ### Return value Returns the object describing the current trial. The object will contain all of the parameters associated with the current trial. ### Description Get a description of the current trial. ### Example ```javascript var trial = jsPsych.getCurrentTrial(); console.log('The current trial is using the '+trial.type+' plugin'); ``` --- ## jsPsych.getDisplayElement ```javascript jsPsych.getDisplayElement() ``` ### Parameters None. ### Return value Returns the HTML DOM element used for displaying the experiment. ### Description Get the DOM element that displays the experiment. ### Example ```javascript var el = jsPsych.getDisplayElement(); // hide the jsPsych display el.style.visibility = 'hidden'; ``` --- ## jsPsych.getInitSettings ```javascript jsPsych.getInitSettings() ``` ### Parameters None ### Return value Returns the settings object used to initialize the experiment. ### Description Gets the object containing the settings for the current experiment. ### Example ```javascript var settings = jsPsych.getInitSettings(); // check the experiment structure console.log(JSON.stringify(settings.timeline)); ``` --- ## jsPsych.getProgress ```javascript jsPsych.getProgress() ``` ### Parameters None. ### Return value Returns an object with the following properties: | Property | Type | Description | | -------------------- | ------- | ---------------------------------------- | | total_trials | numeric | Indicates the number of trials in the experiment. Note that this does not count possible loops or skipped trials due to conditional statements. | | current_trial_global | numeric | Returns the trial index of the current trial in a global scope. Every trial will increase this count by 1. | | percent_complete | numeric | Estimates the percent of the experiment that is complete. Works as expected for experiments without conditional or looping timelines. For complex timelines, the percent is an approximation. | ### Description This method returns information about the length of the experiment and the participant's current location in the experiment timeline. ### Example ```javascript var progress = jsPsych.getProgress(); alert('You have completed approximately '+progress.percent_complete+'% of the experiment'); ``` --- ## jsPsych.getStartTime ```javascript jsPsych.getStartTime() ``` ### Parameters None. ### Return value Returns a `Date` object indicating when the experiment began. ### Description Get the time that the experiment began. ### Example ```javascript var start_time = jsPsych.getStartTime(); ``` --- ## jsPsych.getTotalTime ```javascript jsPsych.getTotalTime() ``` ### Parameters None. ### Return value Returns a numeric value indicating the number of milliseconds since `jsPsych.run` was called. ### Description Gets the total time the participant has been in the experiment. ### Example ```javascript var time = jsPsych.getTotalTime(); console.log(time); ``` --- ## jsPsych.pauseExperiment ```javascript jsPsych.pauseExperiment() ``` ### Parameters None. ### Return value None. ### Description Pauses the experiment. The experiment will finish the current trial, but will not execute any additional trials until `jsPsych.resumeExperiment()` is called. ### Example ```javascript var trial = { type: jsPsychHtmlKeyboardResponse, stimulus: 'Press p to take a 30 second break. Otherwise, press c to continue immediately.', choices: ['p', 'c'], on_finish: function(data){ if (jsPsych.pluginAPI.compareKeys(data.response, "p")) { jsPsych.pauseExperiment(); setTimeout(jsPsych.resumeExperiment, 30000); } } } ``` --- ## jsPsych.resumeExperiment ```javascript jsPsych.resumeExperiment() ``` ### Parameters None. ### Return value None. ### Description Resumes the experiment after a call to `jsPsych.pauseExperiment()`. If the post trial delay (`post_trial_gap`) has not yet been reached, then the experiment will not continue until the delay is finished. For example, if `post_trial_gap` was 10,000ms and `jsPsych.resumeExperiment()` was called 6,000ms after the previous trial finished, then the experiment would not continue for another 4,000ms. ### Example ```javascript var trial = { type: jsPsychHtmlKeyboardResponse, stimulus: 'Press p to take a 30 second break. Otherwise, press c to continue immediately.', choices: ['p','c'], on_finish: function(data){ if(jsPsych.pluginAPI.compareKeys(data.response, "p")) { jsPsych.pauseExperiment(); setTimeout(jsPsych.resumeExperiment, 30000); } } } ``` --- ## jsPsych.run ```javascript jsPsych.run(timeline) ``` ### Parameters | Parameter | Type | Description | | --------- | ------- | ---------------------------------------- | | timeline | array | An array containing the objects that describe the experiment timeline. See [Creating an Experiment: The Timeline](../overview/timeline.md). | ### Return value None. ### Description Start the jsPsych experiment with the specified timeline. ### Example ```javascript var timeline = [trial1, trial2, trial3]; jsPsych.run(timeline); ``` --- ## jsPsych.timelineVariable ```javascript jsPsych.timelineVariable(variable) ``` ### Parameters Parameter | Type | Description ----------|------|------------ variable | string | Name of the timeline variable ### Return value Returns a placeholder object that jsPsych uses to evaluate the timeline variable when the trial runs. ### Description [Timeline variables](../overview/timeline.md#timeline-variables) are a powerful technique for generating experiments with repetitive procedures but different parameter values. This function fetches the current value of a particular timeline variable. It must be used in conjunction with a timeline that has timeline variables. See the [timeline variable section](../overview/timeline.md#timeline-variables) for details. ### Examples #### Use as a parameter for a trial ```javascript var trial = { type: jsPsychImageKeyboardResponse, stimulus: jsPsych.timelineVariable('image') } var procedure = { timeline: [trial], timeline_variables: [ {image: 'face1.png'}, {image: 'face2.png'}, {image: 'face3.png'}, {image: 'face4.png'} ] } ``` --- ## jsPsych.version ```javascript jsPsych.version() ``` ### Parameters None. ### Return value Returns the version number as a string. ### Description Gets the version of jsPsych. ### Example ```javascript var version = jsPsych.version(); console.log(version); ```