Brain tricks
Five short tests that psychologists have used for decades to study attention and memory. Before each one, guess how you'll do. Most of us are surprised by our own brains.
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Why these tests matter
Your brain takes shortcuts all day long. Most of the time they help. Sometimes they trip you up, and it helps to know when.
Some habits, like reading, run whether you want them to or not. Knowing that helps you slow down when a sign, a message or a price looks familiar.
Seeing something and acting on it always takes a moment. On the road that moment is distance travelled, so keep your eyes up and leave a gap.
We feel we see the whole scene, but we keep only a small part of it in mind. A glance at your phone is enough to miss something that changed.
You can only hold a few things in mind at once. Split long numbers into chunks, write things down, and don't rely on remembering a code you just heard.
Not a diagnostic test. These are for fun and curiosity. Your device, screen, tiredness and practice all change the scores. If you're worried about your memory or attention, talk to a doctor.
Sources: J. R. Stroop (1935), and C. M. MacLeod's 1991 review of Stroop research (Psychological Bulletin). D. L. Woods and colleagues (2015), on simple reaction time in adults (Frontiers in Human Neuroscience). W. E. Hick (1952), on choice reaction time. R. A. Rensink, J. K. O'Regan and J. J. Clark (1997), the flicker method for change blindness (Psychological Science). G. A. Miller (1956), "The magical number seven, plus or minus two" (Psychological Review). P. M. Corsi (1972), and R. P. C. Kessels and colleagues (2000), Corsi block norms (Applied Neuropsychology). These are simplified home versions of lab tests, so treat every score as a rough guide. Originally built for Mariam's Lab.