If you want to test the raw horsepower of a human brain, psychologists use one specific tool: The N-Back Task.
It is deceptively simple to describe, but excruciatingly hard to play. It requires you to be constantly updating a mental list, deleting old items and adding new ones, second by second.
It is the ultimate test of Fluid Intelligence—the ability to reason and solve new problems independent of previously acquired knowledge.
Working-Memory Grid brings this clinical lab task to your browser.
The Science: The Dual N-Back
The N-Back task was made famous by a 2008 study by Jaeggi and colleagues, which suggested that practicing this specific task could actually increase IQ (though this is still debated, the benefit to attention is well-documented).
It works by overloading your central executive.
- 1-Back: Easy. Is this square the same as the last one?
- 2-Back: Hard. Is this square the same as the one two steps ago?
- 3-Back: Expert. Is this square the same as the one three steps ago?
Your brain has to maintain a constant “buffer” of the last 3 seconds of reality.
The Game: Working-Memory Grid
- Visual Mode: A blue square moves around a grid. Press “Match” if it lands in the same spot as N turns ago.
- Audio Mode: (Optional) Letters are spoken. Press “Match” if you hear the same letter as N turns ago.
- Dual Mode: Doing both at the same time. This is the PsychKit.org Dual N-Back implementation, designed for maximum cognitive load.
👉 Play the Game: Working-Memory Grid
Actionable Advice
- Embrace the Failure: You will fail. You will feel your brain “short circuit.” That feeling is good—it means you are pushing your capacity limit. That is where growth happens.
- The “Room” Effect: Notice how much better you are at listening to your spouse or boss after a few weeks of this. You are training the muscle that says, “Hold on to this information while listening to the new information.”
Safety & Disclaimer
- This tool is for cognitive challenge.
- Headache Warning: This is a high-intensity mental workout. It is normal to feel mentally exhausted after 10 minutes. Do not push through a headache.