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Dual N-Back - Brain Training Online

Complex Working Memory — hold on while your attention is pulled elsewhere

A dual-task working memory workout, based on published complex-span research. Free, in your browser, no signup to start.

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See how it works

Verbal round

GRADEN

Correctly spelled? YesNo

Remember: F

Spatial round

◭

Symmetric? YesNo

Remember: cell 7

A quick decision, then an item to remember — repeated every round, recalled all at once at the end.

How it works

Make a quick decision

Before each item to remember, judge a short distractor — is this word spelled correctly, or is this shape symmetric?

An item to remember follows

After the decision, a letter (Verbal) or a grid position (Spatial) appears — that's what you need to hold onto.

Recall everything at the end

Once all rounds are done, recall every remembered item, in the order it appeared.

Two task types, three ways to train them

Verbal

Judge whether letters were rearranged in a word, then remember a letter each round.

Spatial

Judge whether a shape is symmetric, then remember a grid position each round.

Combined

Alternates Verbal and Spatial rounds within the same set, doubling the mental juggling.

Part of the BrainScale training suite, trained by people in 120+ countries since 2011.

What is Complex Working Memory training?

Complex Working Memory (CWM) is a dual-task span exercise: unlike a plain memory span, each round pairs a quick decision — a distractor task — with an item you need to remember. That combination of processing and storage under time pressure is what makes complex span tasks a stronger working-memory workout than simple recall alone.

How the exercise works

Each round starts with a handful of quick decisions: in Verbal rounds, judge whether a shown word's letters were rearranged; in Spatial rounds, judge whether a shape is mirror-symmetric on the vertical axis
After the decisions, the round's item to remember appears — a letter in Verbal rounds, a highlighted cell on a grid in Spatial rounds
The number of rounds equals your current level, so at level 5 you'll need to remember 5 items by the end
In Combined mode, rounds alternate between Verbal and Spatial, so you're tracking two kinds of memory items at once
Once every round is done, the recall stage begins: reproduce every remembered item in the order it appeared

Why train with a dual task?

Complex span tasks load working memory harder than simple span, because you can't just passively rehearse — the decisions keep interrupting you
Trains sustained attention and cognitive control alongside memory capacity
The task design is based on published complex-span research (Chein & Morrison), not an invented mechanic
Two task types — verbal and spatial — mean you can target whichever memory system you want to work, or combine both

Short, frequent sessions beat occasional long ones — consistency is what moves your level.

Who it's for

Anyone whose memory span exercises feel too easy and want a harder dual-task version
Students and professionals who need to hold information in mind while handling other tasks and interruptions
People interested in the research behind working-memory training, not just casual games
Anyone building a daily training habit — pair it with streaks

Frequently asked questions

What is the Complex Working Memory (CWM) exercise?

Complex Working Memory (CWM) is a dual-task span exercise on BrainScale. Each round pairs a quick decision — judging a word's spelling or a shape's symmetry — with an item to remember, a letter or a grid position. Once all rounds are done, you recall every remembered item in order.

Is Complex Working Memory free to play?

Yes. Complex Working Memory is free to play with no signup required to start. Creating a free account adds progress tracking and streaks; a premium plan removes free-tier session limits.

What is the difference between Verbal, Spatial, and Combined CWM?

In Verbal rounds, you judge whether a word's letters were rearranged, then remember a letter. In Spatial rounds, you judge whether a shape is symmetric, then remember a position on a grid. Combined mode alternates Verbal and Spatial rounds within the same set, so you're tracking both kinds of memory items at once.

How does the difficulty level adapt?

Your level sets the number of rounds in a set, which equals the number of items you need to remember by the end. Clear enough rounds accurately and the level rises by one round; fall below the accuracy threshold across several sets and the level eases back down.

Is CWM based on published research?

Yes. The task design follows the complex working memory span paradigm described by Chein and Morrison in "Expanding the mind's workspace," which found that training on this kind of dual-task span exercise improved working memory, cognitive control, and reading comprehension.

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