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Stroop Test: Measure Your Brain's Executive Control

By Dr. Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., MFT

The Stroop Test is one of the most well-validated measures of cognitive flexibility and executive function in psychology. Named for John Ridley Stroop, who published his classic study in 1935, it measures the brain's ability to inhibit an automatic response and substitute a more deliberate one.

This version gives you a brief experience of the task. It is not a clinical assessment — but it demonstrates the real cognitive demand involved in executive function, which is exactly what ADHD affects.

Try the Stroop Task

Name the COLOR of each word — not the word itself.

Press Start when ready. You have 30 seconds.

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Educational content only. Not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.