The WAND Protocol
An Open-Source Software Suite for Inducing and Measuring Cognitive Fatigue
The scientific study of cognitive fatigue is limited by methodological imprecision, with paradigms often unable to distinguish genuine fatigue from confounds like boredom and task learning. This leads to contradictory findings and makes it near impossible to test potential interventions.
To overcome these issues, I developed the WAND model, an open source, modular software suite designed to induce cognitive fatigue with high precision.
Video Demonstration Coming Soon
Adaptive Difficulty
Dynamically adjusts task difficulty based on real time performance to keep each participant in the optimal challenge zone, ensuring sustained cognitive engagement without frustration or disengagement.
Performance Plateauing
Includes a preliminary calibration phase that mitigates task learning effects by ensuring participants reach a stable performance baseline before the main fatigue induction begins.
Task Variability
Rotates between three complementary non verbal N back tasks, Sequential, Spatial, and Dual, to sustain high effort engagement and counteract monotony induced passive fatigue.
Precision Measurement
Integrates embedded mini distractors to probe inhibitory control under load and uses robust signal detection metrics, d′ and A′, to provide a pure measure of cognitive decline independent of response bias.
How to Cite
If you use the WAND software in your research, please cite the following publication: