Working Memory
Sequence Memory Test
Remember an increasingly long pattern of button presses. How far can you go?
Sequence Memory
Remember the sequence of illuminated squares and repeat it in order.
What Sequence Memory Measures
Sequence memory tests your ability to encode and reproduce a growing series of spatial locations in order - A task that relies primarily on the visuospatial sketchpad, one of the two subsidiary systems in Baddeley's working memory model. Unlike verbal digit span, which recruits the phonological loop, sequence memory requires you to mentally map positions in space and replay them without the benefit of subvocal rehearsal.
The task closely parallels the Corsi Block Test, a widely used neuropsychological instrument developed by Philip Corsi in 1972. In the clinical version, an examiner taps blocks on a board in sequence while the patient must reproduce the pattern. It's used to diagnose spatial working memory deficits in conditions ranging from Alzheimer's disease to hippocampal lesions.
Corsi Block Test vs. Digit Span
Although both measure working memory capacity, they tap fundamentally different neural circuits. Most people perform slightly worse on spatial span than verbal span - A gap called the Corsi-digit asymmetry. For a static-pattern variant of this spatial challenge, try Visual Memory.
| Property | Corsi Block / Sequence Memory | Digit Span / Number Memory |
|---|---|---|
| Memory system | Visuospatial sketchpad | Phonological loop |
| Brain regions | Right parietal, hippocampus | Left temporal, Broca's area |
| Adult average span | ~5.0 units | ~7.0 digits |
| Rehearsal strategy | Spatial path visualization | Subvocal repetition |
| Age of peak performance | Early 20s | Mid-20s |
| Training sensitivity | Moderate | High (chunking helps) |
Score Percentile Reference
| Levels Completed | Percentile | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Bottom 10% | Well below average |
| 5–7 | 10th–40th | Below average |
| 8–10 | 40th–75th | Average |
| 11–13 | 75th–95th | Above average |
| 14+ | Top 5% | Exceptional |
How Sequence Memory Changes With Age
Visuospatial working memory capacity peaks in the early 20s and declines gradually - Earlier and more steeply than verbal memory, which relies on overlearned language systems that remain robust longer.