Memory
Working and short-term memory — the mental workbench that holds and manipulates information while you use it.
Payoff: follow a multi-step recipe or a verbal address without writing it down, keep the thread of a meeting, and read a dense paragraph without losing the earlier sentences.
Train with these exercises
Word Pairs: MemoryMemorize word pairsN-back: Working memoryDoes flash position match one from N steps back?Digit SpanRepeat sequence forward or backwardMemory MatrixMemorise and repeat lit cellsReading Span: MemoryJudge sense, recall last wordsCorsi BlocksRepeat the block sequenceOSpan: Math+MemorySolve equations, remember lettersSpatial Span (Backward)Reproduce sequence in reverseStory Recall: detail memoryRead a story → recall now and after 90s
All 48 trainers →Read the evidence
How to train working memory — what the science actually saysWorking memory is trainable, but transfer is narrower than most apps promise. Learn what improves and how to practice honestly.Why active recall and spacing work togetherRetrieving an answer after a delay creates a stronger learning signal than simply reading it again.N-back: Working memoryDoes flash position match one from N steps back?Corsi BlocksRepeat the block sequenceHow we evaluate the evidenceProven: regular practice produces clear, measurable improvement on the trained skills, and several paradigms (e.g. speed-of-processing, working memory) show transfer to related real tasks.
Research references
- Jaeggi, S. M., Buschkuehl, M., Jonides, J., & Perrig, W. J. (2008). Improving fluid intelligence with training on working memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(19), 6829–6833. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0801268105
- Redick, T. S., et al. (2013). No evidence of intelligence improvement after working memory training: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 142(2), 359–379. DOI: 10.1037/a0029082
- Jaeggi, S. M., Buschkuehl, M., Perrig, W. J., & Meier, B. (2010). The concurrent validity of the N-back task as a working memory measure. Memory, 18(4), 394–412. DOI: 10.1080/09658211003702171
- Roediger, H. L., III, & Karpicke, J. D. (2006). Test-enhanced learning: Taking memory tests improves long-term retention. Psychological Science, 17(3), 249–255. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01693.x
- Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L., III (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning. Science, 319(5865), 966–968. DOI: 10.1126/science.1152408
- Cepeda, N. J., Vul, E., Rohrer, D., Wixted, J. T., & Pashler, H. (2008). Spacing effects in learning: A temporal ridgeline of optimal retention. Psychological Science, 19(11), 1095–1102. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02209.x
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💊NZT-48Biohackers · ambitious self-optimizers
The full prefrontal battery for people who want maximum cognitive output. Trains working memory (N-back, OSpan), sustained attention, planning (Tower of London) and inhibition together. Expect sharper focus, faster mental switching and more mental stamina across a long workday.