<p>A very common test of working memory is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-back" rel="nofollow">N-back</a>.</p>

<p>In the N-back, the subject needs to remember what happened some number (N) of steps earlier. For example, imagine seeing the following numbers one at a time on a computer screen. Your task is to press a key whenever the number on the screen is the same as the number that was there 3 steps earlier:</p>

<p>1 4 5 2 6 3 4 5 6 <strong>4</strong> 2 5 3 <strong>2</strong>.</p>

<p>The numbers in bold are when the subject should respond.</p>

<p>There are many variations of the n-back, and it is easy to adjust the difficulty of the test by changing how many steps back subjects need to remember.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-17T22:57:55.613Z
2015-02-17T22:57:55.613Z
Josh
<p>I want to do a study on the effect of physical exercise on working memory. Can you suggest measures for working memory assessment that differentiate levels of memory functioning amongst "normal" adults?</p>

<cognitive-psychology><measurement><experimental-psychology><working-memory><neuropsychology>
Measures to study working memory level related to physical activity
user7685
# Measures to study working memory level related to physical activity

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-17)

I want to do a study on the effect of physical exercise on working memory. Can you suggest measures for working memory assessment that differentiate levels of memory functioning amongst "normal" adults?

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, measurement, experimental-psychology, working-memory, neuropsychology


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-02-17. Score: 2

A very common test of working memory is the [N-back](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-back).

In the N-back, the subject needs to remember what happened some number (N) of steps earlier. For example, imagine seeing the following numbers one at a time on a computer screen. Your task is to press a key whenever the number on the screen is the same as the number that was there 3 steps earlier:

1 4 5 2 6 3 4 5 6 **4** 2 5 3 **2**.

The numbers in bold are when the subject should respond.

There are many variations of the n-back, and it is easy to adjust the difficulty of the test by changing how many steps back subjects need to remember.


---

