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N-Back — working memory & attention

💡Benefits

N-back is the most-studied working-memory exercise. Jaeggi et al. (2008, PNAS) showed n-back training can improve measures of fluid intelligence. It requires holding and continuously updating information at once.

🎮How to play

A stream of items is shown. If the current item matches the one N steps back, press the button. The larger N is, the harder it gets.

📚Scientific sources

  1. Jaeggi, Buschkuehl, Jonides & Perrig (2008). Improving fluid intelligence with training on working memory. PNAS, 105(19), 6829–6833. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Improving+fluid+intelligence+with+training+on+working+memory+Jaeggi+2008
  2. Baddeley (1992). Working memory. Science, 255(5044), 556–559. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Working+memory+Baddeley+1992+Science

Frequently asked questions

Yes, on MentalMath N-Back is completely free and opens without registration.
The child says whether the current item matches the one shown N steps back, which develops working memory and the updating of attention.
Because it is a more demanding exercise, it is recommended from age 9 to 10.
Yes, it works on phones, tablets and computers with no app to install.
About 10 minutes a day several times a week noticeably strengthens working memory.
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