Verbal Memory
Seen or new? Decide fast.
Words appear one at a time. Mark each as 'Seen' or 'New'. Your pool grows. Three mistakes and the run ends.
The Zehano verbal memory test shows you one word at a time. You mark each as 'seen' (you saw it earlier in this session) or 'new' (you have not). The pool grows over time, requiring you to hold more and more words in mind. Three mistakes ends the game. Your score is how many words you correctly judged.
How to use the Verbal Memory Test
- Read each word. One word appears at the centre of the screen.
- Decide: seen or new. Click 'seen' if you remember it from earlier this session. Click 'new' if you have not seen it before.
- Build your word pool. Every word you mark 'new' enters your tracking list. Future repeats should be marked 'seen'.
- Avoid three mistakes. You have three lives. Wrong calls cost a life. Game ends at three errors.
- Track your best. Your highest correct count is saved automatically.
Benefits
- Long-term recognition memory. Unlike digit span, this tests recognition over minutes rather than seconds.
- Lower verbal labelling. Word memory is the foundation of much real-world memory like names and concepts.
- Lasts longer. Sessions can run 10 to 20 minutes for strong scorers, training sustained attention as well.
- Free and private. Browser-only, no signup, scores stored locally on your device.
The science
Recognition memory for words is one of the most robust and well-studied memory systems. People can typically recognise thousands of previously-encountered words even months after first exposure, though confidence drops over time. The Zehano test measures the working component of recognition: how reliably you can call up the 'have I seen this in this session' judgment as the pool of seen words grows. Performance correlates with several real-world outcomes including academic learning and vocabulary acquisition, though the connection is modest.
Strategies like sub-vocalising words, associating them with images, or grouping them by topic can extend the apparent capacity of recognition memory significantly.
Tips for best results
- Repeat each word silently as it appears to encode it more strongly.
- Group similar words mentally (animals, foods, abstract concepts).
- Take the test in a quiet environment without time pressure beyond the game's own pace.
- Track your best across multiple sessions, not just one round.