Go/No-Go Test: The Go and Hold Game
This go/no-go test is about stopping yourself. Most signals say Go, and you tap as fast as you can. Now and then a Hold appears, and the hard part is not tapping.
- A round Go disc or a square Hold plate appears, one at a time.
- On Go, tap the panel or press Space as fast as you can.
- On Hold, do nothing. There are 48 quick trials, and most of them are Go.
Keys: Space or Enter
The pace is quick on purpose. Holding back is the hard part.
How does the go/no-go test work?
One signal appears at a time. A round Go disc means tap the panel or press Space right away. A square Hold plate means do nothing and wait for the next one. The two signals differ in shape and word, so the game does not depend on color.
There are 48 quick trials. Most are Go, and the first two always are, so you settle into a rhythm before the first Hold.
Why are most signals Go?
Holding back is only hard when pressing has become a habit. Research on this task found that a quick pace with rare no-go signals is what builds that habit. In slow versions where both signals come equally often, the brain signs of stopping were much weaker.
So the pace here is quick on purpose. If you feel your finger move on a Hold, the game is doing its job.
What does my score mean?
Your score is the share of trials you handled right: every Go answered in time and every Hold left alone. Higher is better.
The result splits this into parts. You see how many Go signals you caught, how many you missed and how many Holds you pressed on. You also see your median time on Go. Some players are fast but press on many Holds; others are careful but slower. Both patterns are normal.
A tap faster than a real reaction counts as too early. It does not count as a good Go, because it was a guess. If you switch tabs, the game pauses and drops the trial in progress.
Is this a test for ADHD or impulsivity?
No. Research versions of go/no-go tasks are used to study attention and self-control. This game has no norms and no clinical checks, so it cannot tell you anything about a condition. If you have concerns, talk with a doctor or psychologist.
Can I get better at it?
Probably, with practice. That shows skill at this game. A large review found little evidence that gains from brain games carry over to daily life. See our brain games page for more.
FAQ
What if I miss a Go because I was being careful?
A missed Go counts as a wrong trial. The game rewards both speed and stopping, so try to find a balance.
Why does the signal disappear so fast?
A short signal keeps the pace quick. You can still answer a Go for a moment after it disappears.
What else can I try?
The flanker test puts two answers in conflict. So does the Stroop test. The reaction time test is pure speed with no stopping. Visual search is about deciding quickly and correctly.
Our free IQ test is about reasoning. Our guide on how accurate IQ tests are explains why a game score is different. The cookie policy lists what the games save on your device.