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Feedback on Dual N-Back
Single N-Back
Position only: press when the square is where it was N steps ago. Good for learning n-back before adding sound, or for playing somewhere quiet.
Block done
Position · Sound
(Esc) · finished blocks still count
Session done
Average N =
Score /100 · blocks · best level · accuracy
New personal best!
Your level, block by block
More Dual N-Back
More focus games
These are practice games for training and tracking your own focus, based on well-known attention and memory tasks. They are not medical or psychological tests and can’t diagnose anything, such as ADHD. If you are worried about your attention or memory, talk to a doctor.
About the Dual N-Back
Dual n-back is a working memory task. Every three seconds a square lights up in a 3×3 grid and a letter is spoken. Press Position when the square is in the same place as N steps ago, and Sound when the letter is the same as N steps ago. At N = 2 you keep the last two of each in mind, at N = 3 the last three, and so on. Each block is 20 + N steps; score 80% or better on both and the next block goes up a level, drop under 50% on either and it goes down, so it always stays hard but possible. Choose one block, about 10 minutes or about 20 minutes. No sound? It switches to single (position-only) n-back.
How to use it
- 1 Pick a starting level (N = 2 is a good start) and how long to play.
- 2 Press Start. Watch the grid and listen to the letters.
- 3 Press Position (A) or Sound (L) whenever the item matches the one N steps back. Both can match at once.
- 4 After each block, the level adjusts. At the end, see your average level and how it changed.
Frequently asked questions
How does dual n-back work?
Two streams at once: positions on a grid and spoken letters. For each, you press when the current item is the same as the one N steps earlier. Keeping both lists updated in your head is what makes it a hard working memory workout.
What level should I start at?
Start at N = 2. Most people settle at 2 or 3 in their first weeks. The game changes the level for you after each block, so don’t worry about picking wrong.
Does dual n-back increase IQ?
That is debated. Some early studies reported gains, but later studies mostly found that people get better at n-back itself without a clear rise in IQ. Play it as a demanding focus workout, not as an IQ booster.
How is the score worked out?
For each block and each stream: hits divided by hits plus misses plus false presses. That way pressing at everything doesn’t pay. The session score is based on the average level you played at.
Why can’t I hear the letters?
The letters are spoken by your browser’s built-in voice. Check your volume and that the page isn’t muted. Some browsers have no voice installed; then the game plays single (position-only) n-back and says so.
How long should I play?
About 20 minutes a day is what most training studies used. Even one or two blocks on a break is good practice.
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