Hi HN,

I built N-Back.net, a lightweight and responsive Dual N-Back task for working memory training.

I was frustrated by the clunky UI and heavy design of most existing n-back tools, so I made something clean, fast, and distraction-free. No login, no ads, no tracking – just cognitive training in your browser.

Key features: • Dual mode: visual + auditory • Adaptive difficulty: level up as you improve, drop down if needed • Dark mode and keyboard-only mode • Clearly differentiated letter sounds, carefully selected to avoid confusion • Performance tracker (WIP: I’m working on streaks and detailed history) • Mobile-friendly (works well on phones & tablets)

I’m planning to add: • Custom training modes (single-modality, color, etc.) • User-defined N range • Optional accounts for progress saving (but always optional)

Would love your feedback on: • UX flow and performance • Cognitive challenge balance • What would make you come back and use it regularly?

Site: https://n-back.net

Thanks for checking it out!

My personal experience with n-back mainly revolves around discovering the large variation in my ability to focus. Practisibg does get me better at the n-back task (not anything else as far as I can tell) but daily form determines results to a large degree. This effect seems to transfer somewhat: on weeks I'm overall worse at focusing on n-back I appear to also produce fewer commits.

But what determines this daily form I don't know. I suspect sleep, stress, and exercise has something to do with it.

Generalization beyond n-back tasks had not been established, at least at the last time I looked into the field, maybe 8 years ago. There was always the hope that tasks that focused on specific core cognitive processes would lead to broad cognitive improvements, but I am not too confident about it.

One problem in this field has been weak control conditions..e.g. no train conditions. I often thought that a cardio control conditions would be useful. I'd almost guarantee that for most people, 60 minutes a week jogging would lead to better cognitive improvements than 60 minutes of n-back.

This is very nice! But I don’t quite get how 70% is considered good performance — I managed to outperform that by literally doing nothing:

Game Complete!

Accuracy: 78.6% Correct Responses: 11 / 14 Average Reaction Time: 0 ms

I've been using the n-back protocol for over a year and it's definitely improved my cognitive abilities. I don't know if my IQ has increased, but on days where I use this protocol(20-25 minutes) I see a marked improvement in the clarity and vibrancy of my thoughts- put another way this protocol's biggest benefit is it's effectiveness in clearing the mental fog in my head. I've tried experimenting with other protocols(solving crossword/chess puzzles, meditation,etc..)but they were not nearly as effective as n-back.

I've actually built my own variation of n-back(triple n-back), where you're tested on the colour of the stimulus in addition to the sound and position-so it's much more cognitively demanding. If you're interested, you can check it out here: https://mind-workout.pages.dev

My own experience with Dual N-Back 1) I did it for a month. Probably some improvement, although I did not have any specific test done. Probably the most tangible use is really feeling how working memory (and losing it) is like and having better control. In the same way you might suddenly realize how breathing is and controlling it after learning meditation.

2) The study specified dual N back imposes a pretty demanding regiment. It's 12 sessions daily, consecutively for ~month. It takes about 20 minutes each day of intense focus.

3) There's naturally going to be a lot of survivorship bias in reviews. But you could argue it doesn't make your intelligence worse, so there's only net upside.

" Works on All Devices" statement doesn't seem to be true - I cannot press "space key" on my iPad (Safari).

I also wrote a minimal version for me, https://mostlymaths.net/nb/

Only works well on mobile portrait though, I designed it especifically for my phone. Don't use it much though.