Working Memory
Test your photographic visual memory. A grid of blocks will momentarily flash numbers. Tap the tiles in ascending order (1, 2, 3…) after they hide.
Level 1
Remember the locations of numbers in ascending order.
Calibrate your photographic working memory against Chimpanzee tier speed.
Relative Tier Scale
The All-Knowing
Lvl 13+
Chimpanzee
Lvl 11-12
Elephant
Lvl 9-10
Wolf
Lvl 7-8
Average Human
Lvl 5-6
Koala
Lvl 3-4
Goldfish
Lvl 1-2
Session History
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Keywords
chimp memory test, visual working memory, human benchmark memory, Ayumu chimpanzee study, short term spatial memory, photographic memory test
The Science Behind The Protocol
Working memory is housed in the prefrontal cortex. Early humans theoretically possessed much stronger 'photographic' spatial memory, but evolutionary pressures forced us to trade this raw, instant recall capacity in exchange for advanced linguistic and symbolic processing capabilities.
Evolutionary Scale
Goldfish
While the "3-second memory" is a myth, a goldfish's spatial awareness is highly localized and struggles with complex sequential mapping.
Koala
Koalas have one of the smallest brain-to-body mass ratios of any mammal, resulting in highly rigid, non-adaptable memory structures.
Average Human
You are utilizing standard human symbolic processing. You rely on reading the numbers rather than capturing a visual photograph.
Wolf
Wolves possess excellent spatial memory, allowing them to map and remember vast territories and the locations of previous hunts.
Elephant
Elephants have legendary long-term memory, driven by a highly developed hippocampus, allowing them to remember water sources and other animals for decades.
Chimpanzee
In 2007, researchers at Kyoto University proved young chimps possess an eidetic-like visual working memory, capable of memorizing 9 numbers in 210ms—a survival trait for navigating dense jungle branches.
The All-Knowing
You possess cognitive retention that defies evolutionary tradeoffs. Complete mastery over the visuospatial sketchpad.
General Knowledge
Frequently Asked Questions
Can humans actually beat chimpanzees at this?
In raw, instant 'snapshots', young chimpanzees consistently outperform humans. However, humans can match or exceed chimp scores by utilizing advanced cognitive strategies like 'chunking' (grouping numbers together) or creating mental pathlines.
What does this test actually measure?
It measures the capacity of your visuospatial sketchpad—the part of your working memory responsible for temporarily storing and manipulating visual and spatial information.
What is an average score?
Most unpracticed humans will fail between 4 and 6 numbers. Reaching 8 numbers puts you in the top 5% of the population, while 9+ enters the elite 'chimpanzee territory'.
How can I use 'chunking' to get a higher score?
Instead of trying to memorize 9 individual blocks, try to group them into spatial shapes (e.g., 'a triangle on the left, a line on the right'). By compressing the data into patterns, you bypass the limits of short-term memory.
Does this measure short-term or long-term memory?
Strictly short-term 'working' memory. The information is held in your active consciousness for seconds and is immediately discarded once the sequence is complete.