Corsi Block Test
Repeat the melody of lights
Start training freeFree to start. Plays in your browser, no download.
What is the Corsi Block Test?
The Corsi Block Test is a classic test of visuospatial short-term memory. It was developed by Philip Corsi in 1972. In the original version an examiner taps a sequence of identical wooden blocks on a board, and the participant tries to tap the same blocks in the same order. The sequences get longer until the participant can no longer repeat them correctly.
The longest sequence someone can reproduce is called their Corsi span, and it is typically five to six blocks in adults. Researchers often use it alongside the Digit Span Test, since one taps memory for locations and the other memory for spoken or written items. The Neuroptimize version of the Corsi Block Test uses coloured pads that light up and play a note as the sequence runs.
How to play the Corsi Block Test
- Watch the board as pads light up one at a time, each with its own colour and musical note.
- When the sequence ends, tap the pads in exactly the same order. A row of dots above the board fills in as you go.
- Tapping the wrong pad ends the round, and the pad that should have come next is highlighted.
- A correct answer makes the next sequence one step longer, and a mistake makes it one step shorter. A session has ten rounds, or eight at higher levels.
- As your level rises, the sequences start longer, play faster and use more pads, growing from 4 pads up to 9.
- From level 15, some rounds are announced as reverse rounds. In these you must tap the sequence backwards, starting with the last pad that lit up.
Strategies and tips
Trace the path
Picture the sequence as a line drawn across the board, such as up, across, then down. A route is easier to remember than a list of separate pads.
Let the notes help
Every pad has its own note, so the sequence also forms a short tune. Humming or replaying the melody in your head gives you a second way to recall the order.
Chunk long sequences
Once sequences pass five or six steps, split them into groups of three or so. Remember each group as its own small shape, then join them together when you tap.
Name the pads
Give pads short labels by colour or position, such as red, blue, top left. Saying the labels silently as they light up adds a verbal record alongside the visual one.
Plan reverse rounds in advance
Reverse rounds are announced before the sequence starts, so you know to hold on to the end. Pay extra attention to the last few pads, since those are the ones you tap first.
The science behind the Corsi Block Test
The Corsi block-tapping test, developed by Philip Corsi in 1972, measures visuospatial short-term memory. The examiner taps a sequence of blocks and the participant repeats it. The longest sequence reproduced correctly is the Corsi span, typically five to six items in adults.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Corsi block test measure?
It measures visuospatial short-term memory, the ability to hold a sequence of locations in mind for a short time. The main score is the Corsi span, the longest sequence repeated correctly.
What is a normal Corsi span?
In adults the Corsi span is typically five to six items. It is usually a little shorter than the digit span for the same person.
What is the backward Corsi test?
In the backward version the sequence has to be repeated in reverse order, starting with the last block. It asks you to both hold and rearrange the sequence, which most people find harder. The Neuroptimize version adds backward rounds from level 15.
Is the Corsi Block Test game like Simon?
Yes, it has a similar feel, with coloured pads, notes and sequences that grow. Unlike a simple follow-the-leader game, a new sequence is created each round, it shrinks after a mistake, and higher levels add more pads and reverse rounds.