Exploring Staircase Segment Length (SSL) as a Measure of Adaptability in Stop-Signal Tasks

The adaptive staircase method, frequently employed in tasks like the Stop-Signal Task (SST), dynamically adjusts task difficulty based on participant performance. We introduce Staircase Segment Length (SSL) as a metric to quantify participant adaptability, measuring the consecutive stop trials during which the Stop-Signal Delay (SSD) remains stable. Short SSLs may reflect quick adaptability and stable performance, while longer SSLs could indicate slower adjustments, potentially linked to cognitive fatigue or fluctuations in engagement. Developed in the context of response inhibition, SSL may also serve as a complementary metric to accuracy or fatigue in various adaptive tasks utilizing staircase methods, offering insights into participant dynamics.