Multiple Object Tracking Task¶
HED Task ID: hedtsk_multiple_object_tracking
Also known as: MOT, Pylyshyn Tracking
Participants track a subset of identical moving objects among distractors for several seconds; tracking accuracy indexes sustained multifocal attention.
Description¶
In the Multiple Object Tracking task, participants view a set of identical objects (typically 8–16 circles), a subset of which are briefly designated as targets (by flashing or color). All objects then move independently and randomly for several seconds, and participants must track the targets among distractors. After movement stops, participants identify which objects were the original targets. Performance is measured as tracking accuracy as a function of target load (typically 1–5 targets). The task provides a direct index of how many individual objects can be simultaneously tracked—a measure of visual attention capacity, estimated at approximately 4 objects.
Inclusion test¶
Procedure |
A set of identical objects (dots) move randomly; a subset is designated as targets. After the targets are highlighted, all dots move for several seconds, then participants identify which dots were targets. |
Manipulation |
Number of targets; number of distractors; speed of motion; tracking duration. |
Measurement |
Tracking accuracy (proportion correct); capacity estimate (Pylyshyn’s 4±1); effects of load on accuracy. |
Variations¶
Variation |
Description |
Justification |
|---|---|---|
Standard MOT |
Track 1–5 targets among 8–16 total objects; measure accuracy by load. |
Canonical: track subset of identical moving dots |
Identity-MOT (MIT) |
Each object has a unique identity; report which identity is at each location after tracking. |
Track identity features of moving objects; adds identity memory demand |
3D MOT (NeuroTracker) |
Objects moving in simulated 3D space; used in sports training and clinical assessment. |
Three-dimensional display with depth; different spatial processing |
MOT with Occlusion |
Objects briefly disappear behind occluders; tests object persistence during tracking. |
Objects temporarily hidden; requires inference of hidden trajectories |
Probe-Based MOT |
Probe appears on one object during tracking; participant judges target vs. distractor. |
Probe object after tracking to test spatial knowledge; different response method |
Hierarchical MOT |
Targets embedded within groups; examines grouping effects on tracking. |
Nested groups of objects tracked at multiple levels; different attentional structure |
Auditory MOT Analogs |
Track sound sources moving in auditory space. |
Tracking moving sounds; different sensory modality |
Cognitive processes¶
This task engages the following cognitive processes:
Key references¶
{‘authors’: ‘Pylyshyn, Z. W., & Storm, R. W.’, ‘year’: 1988, ‘title’: ‘Tracking multiple independent targets: Evidence for a parallel tracking mechanism*’, ‘venue’: ‘Spatial Vision’, ‘venue_type’: ‘journal’, ‘journal’: ‘Spatial Vision’, ‘volume’: ‘3’, ‘issue’: ‘3’, ‘pages’: ‘179-197’, ‘doi’: ‘10.1163/156856888x00122’, ‘openalex_id’: None, ‘pmid’: None, ‘citation_string’: ‘Pylyshyn, Z. W., & Storm, R. W. (1988). Tracking multiple independent targets: Evidence for a parallel tracking mechanism. Spatial Vision, 3(3), 179–197.’, ‘url’: ‘https://doi.org/10.1163/156856888x00122’, ‘source’: ‘crossref’, ‘confidence’: ‘high’, ‘verified_on’: ‘2026-04-20’}
{‘authors’: ‘CAVANAGH, P., & ALVAREZ, G.’, ‘year’: 2005, ‘title’: ‘Tracking multiple targets with multifocal attention’, ‘venue’: ‘Trends in Cognitive Sciences’, ‘venue_type’: ‘journal’, ‘journal’: ‘Trends in Cognitive Sciences’, ‘volume’: ‘9’, ‘issue’: ‘7’, ‘pages’: ‘349-354’, ‘doi’: ‘10.1016/j.tics.2005.05.009’, ‘openalex_id’: None, ‘pmid’: None, ‘citation_string’: ‘Cavanagh, P., & Alvarez, G. A. (2005). Tracking multiple targets with multifocal attention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 9(7), 349–354.’, ‘url’: ‘https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2005.05.009’, ‘source’: ‘crossref’, ‘confidence’: ‘high’, ‘verified_on’: ‘2026-04-20’}
Recent references¶
{‘authors’: ‘Meyerhoff, H. S., Papenmeier, F., & Huff, M.’, ‘year’: 2017, ‘title’: ‘Studying visual attention using the multiple object tracking paradigm: A tutorial review’, ‘venue’: ‘Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics’, ‘venue_type’: ‘journal’, ‘journal’: ‘Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics’, ‘volume’: ‘79’, ‘issue’: ‘5’, ‘pages’: ‘1255-1274’, ‘doi’: ‘10.3758/s13414-017-1338-1’, ‘openalex_id’: None, ‘pmid’: None, ‘citation_string’: ‘Meyerhoff, H. S., Papenmeier, F., & Huff, M. (2017). Studying visual attention using the multiple object tracking paradigm: A tutorial review. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 79(5), 1255–1274.’, ‘url’: ‘https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-017-1338-1’, ‘source’: ‘crossref’, ‘confidence’: ‘high’, ‘verified_on’: ‘2026-04-20’}
{‘authors’: ‘Oksama, L., & Hyönä, J.’, ‘year’: 2016, ‘title’: ‘Position tracking and identity tracking are separate systems: Evidence from eye movements’, ‘venue’: ‘Cognition’, ‘venue_type’: ‘journal’, ‘journal’: ‘Cognition’, ‘volume’: ‘146’, ‘issue’: None, ‘pages’: ‘393-409’, ‘doi’: ‘10.1016/j.cognition.2015.10.016’, ‘openalex_id’: None, ‘pmid’: None, ‘citation_string’: ‘Oksama, L., & Hyönä, J. (2016). Position tracking and identity tracking are separate systems: Evidence from eye movements. Cognition, 146, 393–409.’, ‘url’: ‘https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2015.10.016’, ‘source’: ‘crossref’, ‘confidence’: ‘high’, ‘verified_on’: ‘2026-04-20’}
{‘authors’: ‘Alvarez, G. A., & Franconeri, S. L.’, ‘year’: 2007, ‘title’: ‘How many objects can you track?: Evidence for a resource-limited attentive tracking mechanism’, ‘venue’: ‘Journal of Vision’, ‘venue_type’: ‘journal’, ‘journal’: ‘Journal of Vision’, ‘volume’: ‘7’, ‘issue’: ‘13’, ‘pages’: ‘14’, ‘doi’: ‘10.1167/7.13.14’, ‘openalex_id’: None, ‘pmid’: None, ‘citation_string’: ‘Alvarez, G. A., & Franconeri, S. L. (2007). How many objects can you track? Evidence for a resource-limited attentive tracking mechanism. Journal of Vision, 7(13), 14.’, ‘url’: ‘https://doi.org/10.1167/7.13.14’, ‘source’: ‘crossref’, ‘confidence’: ‘high’, ‘verified_on’: ‘2026-04-20’}
{‘authors’: ‘Drew, T., & Vogel, E. K.’, ‘year’: 2008, ‘title’: ‘Neural Measures of Individual Differences in Selecting and Tracking Multiple Moving Objects’, ‘venue’: ‘The Journal of Neuroscience’, ‘venue_type’: ‘journal’, ‘journal’: ‘The Journal of Neuroscience’, ‘volume’: ‘28’, ‘issue’: ‘16’, ‘pages’: ‘4183-4191’, ‘doi’: ‘10.1523/jneurosci.0556-08.2008’, ‘openalex_id’: None, ‘pmid’: None, ‘citation_string’: ‘Drew, T., & Vogel, E. K. (2008). Neural measures of individual differences in selecting and tracking multiple moving objects. Journal of Neuroscience, 28(16), 4183–4191.’, ‘url’: ‘https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.0556-08.2008’, ‘source’: ‘crossref’, ‘confidence’: ‘high’, ‘verified_on’: ‘2026-04-20’}