Dual N-Back · Guides
Reaction time and Stroop: what these games measure
Learn the difference between responding to a signal and choosing a response when information conflicts.
A reaction task starts with a signal
In a simple reaction-time game, wait for a visual signal and respond when it appears. The result reflects the whole interaction: noticing the change, deciding to respond and touching the screen. Your device and input method also contribute to the recorded time.
Stroop adds a competing instruction
A Stroop game can show the name of a colour in a different ink colour. The task asks you to follow a specified property, such as the ink, while ignoring the distracting word. Read the rules before comparing scores; different versions can use different scoring and timing.
Compare like with like
Keep the device, task and surroundings similar. Avoid comparing a phone touch result directly with a mouse click on another website. A personal best and a typical session answer different questions: one shows your best recorded attempt, the other reflects your usual performance.
Use the numbers as practice feedback
Tiredness, interruptions and familiarity with the controls can affect the session. Neither a reaction-time score nor a Stroop result provides a medical diagnosis or a general intelligence score. The cognitive games in Dual N-Back offer different exercises to explore alongside the main working-memory task.