Sequence Memory Test
Covered skills
Relevant for
Great for improving memory for instructions, music patterns, multi-step tasks, and developing strong working memory skills for academic and professional success.
Description
The Sequence Memory Test measures visuospatial working memory through a sequential recall task based on the Corsi Block-Tapping paradigm, first developed in 1972. It evaluates the capacity to encode, retain, and accurately reproduce spatial sequences of increasing length in exact order.
How It Works
Colored tiles illuminate in a specific sequence. You reproduce the sequence by clicking the tiles in the same order. Each correct reproduction adds one tile to the next sequence. Three errors end the test. There is no time limit during the reproduction phase.
What Gets Measured
Rounds completed — total number of sequences successfully reproduced before error accumulation ends the session.
Longest sequence — maximum sequence length accurately reproduced in a single attempt, reflecting visuospatial span.
Accuracy across attempts — proportion of correct reproductions at each sequence length, indicating consistency at and near the span boundary.
Understanding Your Results
Consistent accuracy up to a specific sequence length followed by rapid decline suggests a relatively defined visuospatial span boundary. Variable accuracy at the same sequence length across multiple attempts reflects attentional fluctuation rather than a hard memory limit. Visuospatial span as measured by Corsi-type tasks is typically reported as somewhat lower than verbal digit span in research literature, reflecting different working memory subsystem capacities.
Limitations
This test measures visuospatial sequential recall specifically. It does not assess verbal sequence memory, auditory sequence recall, or procedural memory in real task contexts. Performance is sensitive to familiarity with the task format, baseline alertness, and encoding strategy. Sequence memory span is one component of working memory and results should not be interpreted as a comprehensive measure of memory capacity or procedural learning ability.
Related Tests
Pattern Recognition Test — visual rule detection and sequence completion
Number Memory Test — verbal digit span