Shoal: the flanker task as a fish game
Shoal is a flanker task game set in an aquarium: a small shoal of fish appears, and you say which way the fish in the middle is swimming. The fish around it often swim the other way, and that is the whole challenge. Midway through each 45-second run the rule flips, and you follow the crowd instead.
Play nowFree · No download · Runs in your browser
How to play
- Press Start and wait for the countdown.
- Lead mode comes first: answer the direction of the center fish: use the arrow keys, swipe the water or tap the arrow buttons.
- Ignore the fish around it, even when every one of them points another way.
- When the Crowd mode banner appears, switch to answering the way most of the shoal swims.
- Keep answering as modes alternate until time is up, then read your summary.
What it exercises
The classic flanker task measures how well you hold your focus when nearby signals disagree, and Shoal keeps that core intact.
Selective attention
You have to lock onto one fish and filter out up to ten neighbours that point in other directions.
Switching rules
Crowd mode reverses what matters, and the two modes then alternate in short blocks, so you must notice each switch and adjust at once.
Quick, accurate responses
Streaks multiply your points, which rewards a steady rhythm of correct answers over frantic guessing.
Tips
- Find the leader first. On the first levels it wears a ring; later it does not, but it always sits in the middle of the formation.
- Read the banner every time it appears. A correct answer under the old rule still counts as a miss.
- In Crowd mode the majority is always clear: at least about 70% of the fish agree, so do not count them one by one.
- Protect your streak. The multiplier climbs to x2 after 3 correct answers in a row, x3 after 6 and x4 after 10, and a single miss resets it.
- From level 3 the shoal starts to drift; keep your eyes on the center rather than following the movement.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I try a flanker task online?
Right here. Shoal runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers, costs nothing and shows no ads. A run lasts 45 seconds.
What is a flanker task example?
Five fish in a row: the middle one swims left and the four flankers swim right. The correct answer is left. When all five swim the same way the trial is easy; when they disagree you feel the pull of the crowd.
How does flanker task scoring work in Shoal?
Each correct answer is worth 10 points times your streak multiplier. At the end you also see accuracy, average reaction time, your best streak and a distraction cost.
What is the meaning of the distraction cost?
It is your average reaction time when the fish disagree minus your average time when they agree, using correct answers only. A lower number means the crowd slowed you down less.
Is this a reaction game or an attention game?
Both, and it doubles as a quick flanker test. Speed matters for your score, but the main test is attention: a fast answer to the wrong fish costs the streak.
Ready for a round?
It opens instantly in your browser. No sign-up needed to start.
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