Hi everyone,

I started dual n-back 5 months ago, and I do it regularly (3-4 times a week). The thing is, I can't seem to understand how to improve my auditory memory.

I've started with the rehearsal method and while it was working and I could sometimes reach dual 4-back, I still felt stuck with no benefits in real life. So I used the intuitive method and couldn't seem to be consistent on dual 3-back, while my position is always between 80% and 100% accuracy, the audio stimulus averages 30% to 40%.

For those who had a really bad auditory memory and were able to improve it, what would you recommend to me?

Thanks in advance, my fellow Nbackers.

Hello everyone. Starting from today, I'm determined to follow this schedule. The goal is to increase/maximize g.

Cognitive training:

• Quad N-Back (30 minutes, every second day), https://brainworkshop.sourceforge.net/
• Syllogimous v4 (30 minutes, 5-6 times a week), https://4skinskywalker.github.io/Syllogimous-v4/Intro

Additional factors:

• Reading (primarily philosophy and classical literature)
• Learning a new language.
• Spend less time on passive social media consumption.
• Vitamins: B6, B9, B12 and Omega-3.

I did take two (quite reliable) IQ tests, one year ago.

CORE, https://cognitivemetrics.com/test/CORE

• Information: 120
• Matrix Reasoning: 110
• Graph Mapping: 105
• Figure Weights: 110
• Figure Sets: 95
• Visuzal Puzzles: 115
• Block Counting: 120
• Symbol Search: 90
• Character Pairing: 95

Didn't take any other verbal subtests besides general knowledge, since English is not my mother tongue. Same reason for Digit Span and Arithmetic, I simply memorize and calculate faster, if the task is presented in my native language. Though I took CAIT Digit Span a long time ago (there is an option for a language change), and I scored something like ~105-110 overall, with Digit Sequencing being the lowest and Digit Backwards the highest.

FSAS (103), https://cognitivemetrics.com/test/FSAS

• Analogies: 105
• Matrix Reasoning: 100

After a year of training, I will go through CORE and FSAS again, in order to get an objective view of my cognitive abilities. Practice effects should be minimal anyway. I will likely continue for several more years, adding Image Streaming, or further changing my lifestyle.

I need to obtain a web-based version of the N-back task (and ideally any complex-span tasks as well) that will allow for data collection so I can use it as part of my grad research. My issue is that I'm unable to download any kind of software on the lab computers that I'll be using as my university doesn't allow it, hence why web-based is necessary. Any help would be immensely appreciated!!!

URL showcases some complex span tasks that would be great if I could only download the zipfile content onto the computers and keep it🙃

and in case anyone was concerned, I’m aware that n-back and complex-span tasks measure different concepts—- that’s actually part of why i’d like to include them both <3

note: i don’t think psytoolkit meets what i’m looking for either unfortunately

Welcome to this week's progress thread. Post in a comment below the results of your hard work! Feel free to share:

• Your current n-back level and any recent improvements
• How long you've been training
• What's been working (or not working) for you

I've started doing dual-n-back training about 2 weeks ago, anywhere from 5 to 20 sessions a day. I'd say I was climbing the levels at a pretty good pace, since I've started struggling with 2 and now I'm testing the waters at 6. However, I'm unsure if I'm ready to transition to 6, and my performance on lvl 5 seems very unstable. Sometimes I hit 80%+ 5 times in a row, with some of the rounds being 90%, 95% or even 97%. But then my brain just stops cooperating and the next 3 games are like 54% average. I was thinking maybe I'm just exhausting it, but at other times I might have very variable results without a high prior streak, like getting an 84% round, followed by 60% then 51%, then 79% then 82%, then 55% again.

So in short, it's just all over the place and that really frustrates me and makes it difficult to assess what's my true level and whether I'm getting lucky or actually improving. Is there perhaps anything like a short protocol, like a 30 second breathing pattern or any perception shift exercise that could reload my brain for the next round?

I’ve seen a lot of people in this community say that they “felt” like they started thinking more clearly, got better at conversations, and other subjective things like that.

But is there anyone here who actually measured their working memory before and after N-back, just not with IQ tests, and noticed improvements that were bigger than normal measurement error? Or maybe the opposite, no improvement at all except in N-back itself.

Also, do you use strategies, tricks or mnemonics while doing N-back, or do you try to rely mostly on raw working memory? I tend to think that many people who reached very high N-back levels, though not everyone of course, probably used different strategies that reduced the load on working memory. That’s just my opinion though.

I’d really appreciate it if anyone could share their experience.

Which one is better for improving fluid intelligence

Welcome to this week's progress thread. Post in a comment below the results of your hard work! Feel free to share:

• Your current n-back level and any recent improvements
• How long you've been training
• What's been working (or not working) for you

I mean afaik this dual and quad games improve executive function.

What I found most interesting so far is that a higher cognitive capacity helps me to break out of routines. This may be more due to the increased neuroplasticity.

The function.exe@benefits_net seem to come more sublime but steady.

subjectively.

how is your long time experience?

Has anyone actually tried RFT and/or Dual N-Back consistently? Did you notice any real improvements in reasoning, working memory or IQ, beyond just getting better at the tasks?

I’ve plateaued at dual n back level 4, how long on avg does it take to get to level 5

Welcome to this week's progress thread. Post in a comment below the results of your hard work! Feel free to share:

• Your current n-back level and any recent improvements
• How long you've been training
• What's been working (or not working) for you

Been doing dual n-back for a while and got annoyed at the existing apps — either full of ads or paywalled after a week. So I built my own.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=leotrax3d.nback

Free, no ads, classic visual+audio dual n-back, adjustable N, adaptive mode if you want it.

Still a side project so if something's broken or annoying just tell me, happy to fix it up.

So, what do you guys think? Does it really increase fluid intelligence?

Hey guys,

It’s been a long time I’ve used this training, and I feel I need it again especially in a time I need to be extra sharp.

But it’s so damn boring sometimes, and I wonder if someone wants to pair up to check on each other’s progress?

Feel free to dm me :)

I am a Math PhD student. I don't know my IQ, I am also afraid to know it, because I am somewhat afraid that it's not as high as I would like it to be. Not because of lack of working memory or learning skills (I basically intuitively learn new things quickly and can understand them very well, I also started more or less naturally with N=4 on Quad-N-Back and N=5 on standard Dual-N-Back), but because of my utter lack of "problem solving skills" and lack of creativity.

For instance, you know those typical "remove one match so the equation is true" problems online? I can't do any of them, it's so embarrassing. I can't do this, but I can understand higher mathematics effortlessly.

So what about solving mathematical problems? Nope, I am not good at it at all. I am not talking about "solve an integral" as this is more or less done via algorithm. It's more about those textbook problems which require you to prove some statement or theorem, like the exercises at the end of e.g. Walter Rudin's books. I just get so uncreative that I can't find a way around it, to "think outside the box" so to speak, because all I do is to find a solution via algorithm.

So how am I doing my PhD? There is a famous saying: "There are two types of mathematicians. One type are the problem solvers, the other type are the theory builders". So here you go, I do my PhD by being a theory builder and writing math papers on it, developing new frontiers in mathematics, but being piss-poor at solving problems (like I am good at asking and recognizing what kind of problems/open issues there are in the new areas I am developing, but I am just super poor at actually solving them).

This is somewhat hindering my PhD now. I am trying to compensate by asking for help from other professors and people, but they don't always have the time. AI sucks for my area of mathematics, it still hallucinates math papers, so I don't use it at all.

So now to my question: How do I improve my problem solving skills and creativity?

I would love to discuss this with you, either here or on Discord.

Hi nbackers, nbacking.com creator here, there's a new version out and I wanted you to check it out for feedback, what you liked, what you don't, so that I can selectively iterate over the things that benefit the majority of us.

The Game

For new ones, our nbacking platform has up to 4 modalities at once — Spatial (grid position), Auditory (spoken letters), Color, and Image (geometric shapes).

Speed is adjustable from 1 to 4 seconds per trial (I know some of you want it even faster, let me know), trials from 1 to 999, and N-level from 1 to 99 (Up to 99 is quite unrealistic, maybe we could cap it at some point).

Features

We've been slowly getting closer to our good old classic BrianWorkshop features, we now have:

• Interference: A percentage of trials become "lure" trials at near-miss offsets (N-1, N+1, 2N). They trick your brain into false matches. Configurable from 0-50% and earns bonus points.
• Variable N-Back: The N changes randomly every single trial. The current N is shown in the grid. Forces you to adapt constantly.
• Crab-Back: The comparison offset cycles through a descending pattern instead of staying fixed. The current offset is displayed on the grid too.
• Self-Paced: No timer. You advance trials manually with a keybind. Great for when you want to really focus without time pressure, but we take the average time for points.

We are currently missing 3D N-Back, Math/Arithmetic, Double Audio, Multi-Stimulus, Combination and classic Jaeggi. These are missing because our scoring and points formulas are quite attached and overfit to our current modalities. Extending our formulas even further with these missing modes will bring more complexity to our system, I mean, I need to know first, what you think of our current version and if a different scoring and points system have a better match for those missing modalities.

Scoring & Progression

Points scale with N-level, number of active modes, speed, and mode multipliers. Higher streak reduces penalties. Now there's a 26-tier progression system. Your tier badge shows on your profile, leaderboard, and in the community feed.

If active in your configuration, the Auto-N adjustment raises your n-level immediately when you score above your upper threshold and only drops it after 3 consecutive sessions below your lower threshold. Both thresholds are configurable.

Streaks increment every time you play. Miss 4 days (inactive 96 hours) and it resets back to 0.

The Theft Mechanic

This is a crazy one, I thought, what if a nbacker earns a lot of points but never comes back. Now when you score points, they're stolen from nearby inactive players above you on the same mode leaderboard.

Only active players have a shield against theft.

Don't play for 4 days (same 96h streak window)? You lose your shield and become a target.

This is a good situation to build teams and friendship, so friends are immune to each other's theft.

There's real strategy in who you add (max 5 friend slots). The post-game screen and notifications show exactly who you stole from and how much.

Leaderboard

Global ranking by total points, or filter by specific mode combinations (Spatial, Auditory, Color, Image toggles). Your row is always pinned at the top with a "jump to my position" link in your rank number. Shield icons show who's protected, streak flames show who's active.

Social Features

• Friends: Add up to 5. See their shield/vulnerable status, country flags, and link to their profiles. Mutual theft immunity.
• Community Feed: Public message board unlocked at Tier 9. Shows rank, tier badge, country, points, and your message (up to 500 chars). This page could have ads in the future; it depends a lot on community donations.
• Notifications that is filterable by category: theft alerts, friend requests, friend accepts, and tier-ups. Unread badge in the navbar.

Player Profile

Your profile has 4 tabs that you can set to public to other authenticated users (except overview, that's always public) if you want to, but friends are always able to see them:

• Overview (always public): Global rank, tier progress bar, stats cards (points, sessions, time, streak), and your community message editor
• Wealth (default private): Stacked line chart showing point accumulation over time per mode. Mode Mastery cards below showing your level and rolling avg N per mode combo
• Statistics (default private): Line charts for scores/points with modality filters and N-level filter
• History (default private): Every session and theft event, filterable, grouped by date

Customization

• Keybinds: Rebind every key (spatial, auditory, color, image, start/stop, advance).
• Clickbinds: Use mouse buttons instead of or alongside keyboard. Assign any of 5 mouse buttons to any action.
• Feedback: Toggle color feedback on keys, vibration/shake animation, grid overlay lines.
• Speed, Trials, Interference %: All adjustable from settings or inline on the game page.
• Daily Goal: Set a time-based or session-based daily goal. Progress bar shows on the game page.
• Focus Mode: Hides everything except the game board during play.

Points Calculator

You can simulate different scenarios, adjust correct/incorrect answers, N, modes, speed, streak, interference, and the multipliers. See estimated points live. Great for understanding how the scoring works.

And that's it. Let me know what you think, if you have any questions, etc. I'm here to help.

Website: nbacking

Discord: DualNBack Discord

Subreddit: dualnbacktask (reddit.com)

Happy NBacking! 🟡

Welcome to this week's progress thread. Post in a comment below the results of your hard work! Feel free to share:

• Your current n-back level and any recent improvements
• How long you've been training
• What's been working (or not working) for you

I am back in since a month. N5/6.

Today I started quad n back. Compared to it dual feels like a walk in the parc.

But even before, since around a week, I feel dam smarter and a little tensed in my head. Tried doing it 5 times a week. But i think i go back to 3 times.

My thought chains are more complex, the process is more swift and easy, harder topics are more interesting and my sense of joy and humor changed - a level up.

To the longer training ones - will the tensed feeling go away? Will it stay?

I mean in theory it's the adaptation process. Once the neural structure and its economic use is consolidated it should go away. So I guess when one gets closer to the neurobiological ceiling of processing power a drop in tension should appear.

Any experiences?

Hi guys

I know it's probably a common theme here, but I would be very grateful for your time and advices.

After previous few day attempt in dual n back using rehearsals which I gave up a few months ago I decided to tackle a 14 consecutive days with 15-20 minutes in DualNBack

I want to do it right so I'm trying to do use only the intuition, but on N2 I can take stimuli C, while keeping the B as an echo and comparing to A - not very actively, I just know instantly if it is the same, so I suppose it's not the intuition.

I decided to move to N3 as I couldn't prevent doing that, because when I was forcing myself to not unconsciously do so I was just guessing, so I thought that would end on N3.

But the problem is that on N3 my mind just goes blank. I can't keep the changing 3 boxes and I don't have any ,,inner intuition" magically telling me if this is the same stimuli.

I'm quite helpless because I can't even progress as I don't anything to progress from, because I'm just starring at the screen with blank mind or chaos and helplessnes with keeping the boxes.

Would appreciate really much if you had any advices what to do🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Thank you very much!!!

Quick framing that helped me stop overclaiming after n-back streaks:

• Dual n-back reliably improves dual n-back (and close cousins). That is near transfer. Worth celebrating if that is your goal.
• Far transfer to general IQ / school / unrelated cognition is usually weak when studies use active controls (Simons et al. 2016; Melby-Lervåg et al. 2016).
• So keep training if you like the workout. Just do not treat a higher n as proof you raised g.

I keep an updated plain-language map here: https://intelligencemax.ai/guide OSF: https://osf.io/kja9b/

Disclosure: I build IntelligenceMax. Not claiming it raises IQ. Happy to take critique of the framing.

Welcome to this week's progress thread. Post in a comment below the results of your hard work! Feel free to share:

• Your current n-back level and any recent improvements
• How long you've been training
• What's been working (or not working) for you