The Corsi Test

This example was designed by Dr. John Vidler

The Corsi Test is a simple memory game that asks someone to watch a pattern, hold it in their mind for a moment, and then repeat it back in the same order. You can think of it as a bit like copying a short sequence of taps or lights after seeing it once. It is easy to understand, quick to try, and works well for exploring how people remember positions and patterns rather than words.

What makes this task useful is that it feels familiar and approachable. Most people have played games where they watch, remember, and repeat, so the idea does not need much explanation. As the sequence gets longer, the challenge increases in a gentle and natural way, which makes it a good activity for comparing performance across different ages, settings, or levels of distraction without making the task feel intimidating.

On the Rib:bit, the Corsi Test can be used as a friendly starting point for memory-based experiments in classrooms, workshops, or small research sessions. It gives participants something interactive and easy to follow, while also giving you a clear way to observe how well a person can keep track of a growing pattern. That balance of being playful on the surface and meaningful underneath is what makes the Corsi Test such a useful example activity.