Visual Memory (DLR VMC)

Match it to n symbols back

DLR Visual Memory (VMC): symbols appear one at a time, each defined by a shape, a colour and a style. For every symbol you say whether it matches the one shown n positions earlier — all three attributes must be identical. Blocks run at 2-back, 3-back and 4-back, and the first n symbols of each block are observation only.

Duration

~10 min

Length

10-minute run

Difficulty

Hard

This test is part of Pro.

What to expect

One symbol on screen at a time, answered Yes or No.
Six shapes, six colours and three styles — concentric, filled and bordered.
Blocks cycling through 2-back, 3-back and 4-back, announced before each starts.
The first n symbols of a block shown without a response required.
Near-miss symbols planted one position either side of the target.

What it measures

Working memory
Continuous updating
Resistance to interference

Instructions

1A match needs shape, colour AND style to be identical — same shape in a different style is not a match.
2Rehearse a rolling window of the last n symbols, dropping the oldest as each new one appears.
3Answer Yes or No, or press Y or N on your keyboard.
4Symbols keep coming for the full 10 minutes; there is no fixed number of questions.

Tips

Encode each symbol as one short phrase — 'blue bordered star' — rather than three separate facts.
A symbol that feels familiar is often the lure sitting one position off the target; check the count, not the feeling.
Don't stall on a miss — losing the rolling window costs you the next n items too.

Format: n-back · 2, 3 and 4-back · 10-minute run