I built N-Back.net, a lightweight and responsive Dual N-Back task for working memory training.
I was frustrated by the clunky UI and heavy design of most existing n-back tools, so I made something clean, fast, and distraction-free. No login, no ads, no tracking – just cognitive training in your browser.
Key features: • Dual mode: visual + auditory • Adaptive difficulty: level up as you improve, drop down if needed • Dark mode and keyboard-only mode • Clearly differentiated letter sounds, carefully selected to avoid confusion • Performance tracker (WIP: I’m working on streaks and detailed history) • Mobile-friendly (works well on phones & tablets)
I’m planning to add: • Custom training modes (single-modality, color, etc.) • User-defined N range • Optional accounts for progress saving (but always optional)
Would love your feedback on: • UX flow and performance • Cognitive challenge balance • What would make you come back and use it regularly?
Site: https://n-back.net
Thanks for checking it out!
I would expect a final reaction time of under 100-200ms ideally?
I didn't know about these types of tasks (N-Back) and this was a nice introduction to it.
But what determines this daily form I don't know. I suspect sleep, stress, and exercise has something to do with it.
One problem in this field has been weak control conditions..e.g. no train conditions. I often thought that a cardio control conditions would be useful. I'd almost guarantee that for most people, 60 minutes a week jogging would lead to better cognitive improvements than 60 minutes of n-back.
Game Complete!
Accuracy: 78.6% Correct Responses: 11 / 14 Average Reaction Time: 0 ms
I've actually built my own variation of n-back(triple n-back), where you're tested on the colour of the stimulus in addition to the sound and position-so it's much more cognitively demanding. If you're interested, you can check it out here: https://mind-workout.pages.dev
2) The study specified dual N back imposes a pretty demanding regiment. It's 12 sessions daily, consecutively for ~month. It takes about 20 minutes each day of intense focus.
3) There's naturally going to be a lot of survivorship bias in reviews. But you could argue it doesn't make your intelligence worse, so there's only net upside.
Only works well on mobile portrait though, I designed it especifically for my phone. Don't use it much though.
> Performance on dual n-back has complicated correlations with performance on other tests of working memory or IQ, so it’s not clear what it is tapping into. (And the link between WM and performance on IQ tests has been disputed; high WM as measured by OSPAN does not correlate well with performance on hard Raven’s questions and the validity of single tests of WM training has been questioned .)
> Unfortunately, in general, IQ/g and memory don’t seem to be trainable. Many apparent effects are swamped by exercise or nutrition or by simple practice. And when practice does result in gains on tasks or expensive games, said benefits often do not transfer .
> Have I seen any benefits yet? Not really. Thus far it’s like meditation: I haven’t seen any specific improvements, but it’s been interesting just to explore concentration - I’ve learned that my ability to focus is much less than I thought it was!
It does however seem like maybe dual n-back trains concentration and focus and willpower?
> WM training helps alcoholics reduce their consumption and increases patience in recovering stimulant addicts (cocaine & methamphetamine). WM training has been shown to help children with ADHD and also preschoolers without ADHD; Lucas found behavior improvements at a summer camp.
> To those whose time is limited: you may wish to stop reading here. If you seek to improve your life, and want the greatest ‘bang for the buck’, you are well-advised to look elsewhere.
> Meditation, for example, is easier, faster, and ultra-portable. Typing training will directly improve your facility with a computer, a valuable skill for this modern world. Spaced repetition memorization techniques offer unparalleled advantages to students. [Lots more.] And all of these can start paying off immediately.
> DNB, on the other hand, requires a minimum of 15 hours before one can expect genuine somatic improvements. The task itself is unproven - the Jaeggi studies are suggestive, not definitive.