FAQ: How can I collect keyboard responses without ending the trial?

[SR-SUPPORT]

In some tasks, you need the on-screen stimuli to remain visible for a fixed duration, even if the participant makes a response. In this scenario, the keypress should be recorded but must not terminate the stimulus presentation.

To achieve this, use a Keyboard Trigger to capture the response, but use a separate Timer Trigger to control when the trial ends.

1. Display Screen: The node that presents your stimulus.
   
2. Keyboard Trigger: Records the participant's keypress.
   
3. Intermediate Node (Crucial): You must place an action node here to separate the two triggers. Use an Update Attribute node (to save the response data) or a Null Action node.
   
4. Timer Trigger: This node ends the trial. To ensure a fixed duration, set its Start Time property to reference the start time of the initial stimulus screen (e.g., DISPLAY_SCREEN.startTime).
   

This structure ensures the trial's duration is always controlled by the Timer Trigger, which begins its countdown when the stimulus first appears. The Keyboard Trigger simply records a response if one is made, without affecting the overall timing.

   

---

Advanced Example
For a more complex task involving multiple keypresses within a single trial, please see the RECALL_SEQ sequence in the Create False Memories Example.