Memory Test
Chimp Test
Numbers flash briefly on screen. Remember their positions, then click them in order. Based on the research that revealed chimpanzees outperform humans.
Chimp Test
Click the squares in order according to their numbers. The test will get harder as you go.
What the Chimp Test measures
The Chimp Test directly measures visuospatial working memory - Your brain's ability to hold and recall the precise spatial positions of objects you have seen briefly. Unlike digit span (which uses verbal rehearsal), this task relies on the visuospatial sketchpad component of working memory - The same system probed by visual memory and the ordered-recall sequence memory test.
Baddeley's Working Memory Model
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| Central executive | Attention control - Coordinates the other components |
| Visuospatial sketchpad | Primary component tested here. Holds visual and spatial information |
| Phonological loop | Verbal rehearsal - Used in digit span tests, NOT this one |
| Episodic buffer | Integrates information across memory systems |
Chimp Test Score Distribution
The distribution of maximum numbers recalled before first failure. Most users fail at 4–6. Reaching 8 puts you in the top 5%. Chimpanzees trained by Matsuzawa reliably reach 9+.
| Max numbers | Percentile | Classification | % of users |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–3 | Bottom 5% | Very low | 5% |
| 4 | 25th | Below average | 20% |
| 5 - Human avg | 50th | Average | 28% |
| 6 | 72nd | Above average | 22% |
| 7 | 87th | Strong | 13% |
| 8 | 95th | Elite | 7% |
| 9+ - Chimp avg | Top 2% | Chimpanzee territory | <2% |