Memory Span Test

A Corsi block task. Tiles light up in order on a grid and you tap them back in the same order, starting at three and growing by one every time you clear it.

How to use

  1. Follow the flashing order with your eyes until it stops.
  2. Tap the tiles back in the same order — one wrong tile ends that sequence.
  3. Two misses at the same length ends the run; the longest sequence you repeated is your span.

Adult Corsi forward spans are usually reported around 5–6. Unlike digit span this leans on spatial working memory rather than verbal rehearsal.

The grid is 4×4 rather than the classic 9 blocks, which makes it harder to remember the order as a single drawn line.

FAQ

How is this different from remembering digits?

Digit span leans heavily on verbal rehearsal — repeating numbers silently. Remembering positions uses spatial memory instead, which makes the task language-independent.

How many chances do I get?

Until two misses at the same length. A single slip gets you another attempt at that length.

Can I change the flash speed?

Not yet — it is fixed at 0.6 s per tile. Changing the speed changes measured span too, so the grade bands would no longer mean the same thing.

Related tools

  • Reaction Time Test — Click the instant the screen turns green. Your grade comes from the median of 5 tries.
  • Matrix Reasoning Test — Find the rule in a 3×3 grid and fill the empty cell. Items are generated fresh every run.
  • Aim Accuracy Test — Hit as many targets as you can in 30 seconds — hit count plus accuracy.
  • Flanker Interference Test — Answer only the middle arrow. Measures your attentional interference in milliseconds.