N-Back Test (2-Back)

What this test measures

The N-back is the benchmark working-memory task. A square flashes around a grid and you press MATCH whenever its position is the same as it was two steps earlier (2-back). It loads working-memory updating — continuously holding and refreshing the most recent items. Your score is accuracy across the run; hits, false alarms, and d-prime are reported.

How to play

Watch the squares. When the current position matches the one from two steps ago, press MATCH (or space) before the next square appears. About a third of steps are matches. Stay with the rhythm — they come quickly.

How to improve

• Silently rehearse the last two positions as a moving window.
• Do not guess on every step — false alarms hurt your accuracy.
• Consistency matters more than catching every single match.

Frequently asked questions

What does N-back measure? Working-memory updating and capacity — holding recent information and refreshing it as new items arrive.

What is a good 2-back score? Accuracy above roughly 80% is solid; a d-prime around 2 or higher indicates strong discrimination.

Is N-back the same as dual N-back? This is the single (spatial) N-back. Dual N-back adds a second stream, usually audio, on top.