Digit Span Memory
Digit Span Memory
Observe sequence digits flashing one at a time. Then reproduce the sequence in exact or reverse order.
Sequence starts at 3 digits and escalates up to 10. Failing two consecutive trials at the same span length ends the round.
Keyboard hotkeys: Use 0-9, Backspace to delete, and Enter to submit.
Digit Span: Phonological Loop Capacity & Memory Manipulation
The Digit Span task is the most ubiquitous clinical measure of short-term auditory storage and working memory manipulation. In neuropsychological batteries such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV), Digit Span serves as a core subtest contributing to the Working Memory Index (WMI).
1. Forward vs. Backward Span
Forward Span measures immediate passive phonological rehearsal. Backward Span demands active mental manipulation and re-ordering in the central executive before recall.
2. Population Norms (Miller's Law)
Healthy adults achieve an average forward span of 7 ± 2 digits and a backward span of 5 ± 2 digits, reflecting finite capacity in the human phonological store.
3. Scientific Foundation
Pioneered by George A. Miller (1956, The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two) and Alan Baddeley's tripartite working memory model, Digit Span remains essential to clinical cognitive testing.
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