N-Back Lite — Match the Letter From N Steps Ago
Letters flash one at a time. Press Match when the current letter is the same as the one shown N steps earlier.
How to play
- Pick a level: 1-back (easy) up to 3-back (hard).
- Click Start — letters flash one at a time, about every 2 seconds.
- Press the MATCH button (or Space) when the letter equals the one N steps ago.
- Do nothing if it isn't a match — the game auto-advances.
- After 20 trials you see hits, misses, false alarms and overall accuracy.
The N-back is a classic working-memory task. Letters appear one at a time. Whenever the current letter matches the one shown N positions earlier, press Match. At 2-back you compare with the letter from two steps ago — which means holding a moving window of letters in mind. It's deceptively demanding.
Frequently asked questions
- What does N-back train?
- The N-back task is widely used in cognitive research to engage working memory and fluid attention. You hold a rolling sequence of items in mind and continually update it.
- How do I score well?
- Press Match only when the current letter truly equals the one N steps back. Hits raise your score; missing a real match or pressing on a non-match both hurt your accuracy.