Memory exercise · ~2 min a run · free
Visual Memory
Watch the tiles light up, then repeat the order.
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Spatial working memory holds where things are and in what order, the skill behind a good instrument scan and strong situational awareness. Tiles flash in sequence; tap them back in the same order as the pattern grows.
About this test
About this test
What this test measures
This measures visual and spatial working memory: holding the position and identity of items seen only briefly. It supports building and keeping a mental picture from a quick scan, a core airmanship skill.
How to improve your score
- Encode meaning, not just the picture, name a pattern or shape so it sticks.
- Take in the whole layout first, then the detail, rather than fixating on one item.
- Practise recalling positions as a grid reference, location is often the hard part.
Good to know
Good to know
Trace a route, not a list
As the tiles flash, connect them into a shape or route in your mind rather than trying to hold a list of separate positions. A sequence that traces an L or a zigzag is far easier to recall than the same tiles held as isolated grid squares. Update the route with each new tile rather than starting the pattern over from scratch.What a strong span looks like
Most people begin by reliably recalling four to five tiles; reaching seven or more reflects strong spatial working memory. That same capacity supports the cockpit instrument scan, where you hold a mental picture of several gauge readings in order and act on each one without losing track of the others.Holding a pattern through a distraction (Hard)
On Hard, a short symmetry judgement drops in between the pattern and your recall, which is exactly when a held pattern is most fragile. The trick is to lock the route in before the interruption arrives, answer the symmetry question quickly without dwelling on it, then read your route straight back. Refreshing the pattern in your mind's eye once, just before the interruption, buys you the most protection against losing it.
Frequently asked questions
What does this test measure?
What does this test measure?
Spatial working memory: how long a sequence of positions you can hold and reproduce. It is closely related to the classic block-tapping span task.
How is it different from number memory?
How is it different from number memory?
Number memory is verbal, the digits you can say to yourself. This is spatial, the positions and their order. Pilots rely on both, often at once.
Any tips?
Any tips?
Trace the path with your eyes as it forms, and turn it into a shape or route rather than separate tiles.
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