Double Decision

Double Decision is an exercise from our Attention category, so it’s designed to enhance visual processing speed and improve how accurately and quickly someone can see details. This includes being able to notice features in your periphery when looking straight ahead. The size of this area is called a “useful field of view”.

So, why is it important to train your visual processing skills? Being able to accurately see and react to objects around you is really important! For example, you need to be able to see and process information quickly and efficiently when crossing the street, walking up or down stairs, cooking a meal, or driving a car. If you have poor visual processing skills, it can make it difficult to do these things safely and efficiently.

Double Decision encourages the brain to increase its processing speed and work at the edges of your useful field of view, so that it gradually expands outwards. Your task in Double Decision is to identify a vehicle that appears in the middle of the screen, while simultaneously identifying where a Route 66 sign appears in the periphery.

Here’s how the exercise works:

1. At the START screen, two vehicles are shown towards the middle of the screen. These are your two vehicle options for this level. Highlighted in the periphery will be a Route 66 sign. Select START to begin.
   
2. One of the vehicles will appear in the middle of the screen, along with a Route 66 sign in the periphery. Do your best to remember these objects.
   
3. Static will appear on the screen for a moment to clear the screen.
   
4. Two vehicles are shown side by side. Select the vehicle you previously saw in Step 2.
   
5. If the correct vehicle was selected, then the screen will go blank. Select the portion of the screen that the Route 66 sign previously appeared in.
   

Double Decision has a two-part answer, so there are two different ways to be marked wrong: 

• Selecting the incorrect vehicle
• Selecting the incorrect portion of the screen where the Route 66 sign had appeared

If an incorrect answer is given you’ll hear a “bonk” sound and the correct answer will briefly show on screen. The level may also increase the amount of time the images are on screen for, making it easier for you to take in all of the information. If the correct answer is given you’ll hear a “boop” sound. The level may also decrease the amount of time the images are on screen for, driving your brain to take in information more quickly. In both cases, the level then continues, repeating from Step 2 above.

You can review the exercise video tutorial here:

We also have a recording of a live demonstration of this exercise here:

As you progress through Double Decision, it becomes more challenging in these ways:

• Other distractor signs will appear with the Route 66 sign in the periphery.
• The road sign moves from closer to the center to farther out in the periphery.
• The vehicles become more similar, making it more difficult to select the right one.
• The backgrounds get more complicated, making it harder to spot subtle differences in the cars and road signs.