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Corsi Block Test
Blocks light up one after another on a board. When the sequence ends, tap the blocks back in the same order. Each correct run makes the next sequence one block longer. This is the classic visuospatial working memory task, the spatial cousin of the digit span.
Watch the blocks light up, then tap them in the same order.
About the Corsi Block Test
The Corsi block-tapping task is the standard test of visuospatial short-term memory. Instead of digits you have to remember a path of locations, tapping the blocks in the exact order they lit up. Because no block lights twice in the same round, you can lean on the shape of the path rather than on individual highlights.
The sequence grows by one block after every correct run. Miss one and you get a second try at the same length; miss twice in a row and the test ends. Your score is the longest path you reproduced correctly. Most adults manage about five or six blocks, a little less than their digit span because spatial sequences are harder to rehearse in words.
About
The Corsi Block Test measures visuospatial working memory span by presenting a grid of nine blocks that light up in a sequence. You must tap the blocks in the exact same order after each presentation. The sequence length increases by one block each round until you can no longer reproduce it correctly, capturing the maximum number of locations you can hold and manipulate in short-term memory.
How your result is scored
Your result is the longest sequence you reproduced without error, known as the Corsi span. Some versions also record the total number of correct trials or the highest level reached across multiple attempts. A higher span indicates greater visuospatial working memory capacity, while a lower span suggests more limited temporary storage for spatial information.
Tips to improve
- Chunk the sequence into smaller groups of two or three blocks.
- Verbalize the positions quietly to engage auditory rehearsal.
- Focus on the relative pattern rather than absolute coordinates.
- Practice daily with gradually increasing sequence lengths.
- Minimize distractions and keep your gaze centered on the grid.
Related
Frequently asked questions
- What does the Corsi Block Test actually measure?
- It measures visuospatial working memory span, the ability to temporarily store and reproduce a sequence of spatial locations.
- How is the difficulty adjusted during the test?
- The sequence length increases by one block each round; the test ends when you fail to repeat the sequence correctly.
- Can this test diagnose memory disorders?
- No, it is a screening aid for cognitive assessment, not a medical diagnosis.
- What is a typical Corsi span for healthy adults?
- Most healthy adults achieve a span between five and seven blocks, though individual variation is normal.