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  1. Home
  2. /Data
  3. /Clinical trials
  4. /Conditions
  5. /Schizophrenia and psychosis
  6. /N-Back Task

Clinical trials data

N-Back Task in schizophrenia and psychosis trials: 66 registered studies

Every registered schizophrenia and psychosis study on ClinicalTrials.gov that names the N-Back Task in an outcome measure: how often it is a primary outcome, the tests named with it, how large the studies are and when they measure it.

Registered schizophrenia and psychosis studies name it in an outcome measure
66
Name it in a primary outcome, 48%
32 of 66
Of the condition's 640 studies name it, against 5% of all registered studies
10%
Other conditions
Median participants per study
58
By phase
Try the 1-Back TaskTry the 2-Back Task

Tests named in the same studies

The library tests that schizophrenia and psychosis studies naming the N-Back Task name most often beside it.
  1. 1

    Continuous Performance Test13 studies, 5 as a primary outcome

  2. 2

    AX Continuous Performance Test9 studies, 7 as a primary outcome

  3. 3

    Verbal Learning8 studies, 5 as a primary outcome

  4. 4

    Verbal Fluency7 studies, 3 as a primary outcome

  5. 5

    Digit Span Test6 studies, 1 as a primary outcome

  6. 6

    Monetary Incentive Delay5 studies, 3 as a primary outcome

  7. 7

    Tower Planning5 studies, 2 as a primary outcome

  8. 8

    Stroop Color-Word Test5 studies, 1 as a primary outcome

  9. 9

    Paced Visual Serial Addition Test4 studies, 2 as a primary outcome

  10. 10

    Card Sorting Test (Berg)4 studies, 1 as a primary outcome

A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes

Studies by start year

Each study counted once. 2026 is partly planned starts.
02000: 0 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome20002001: 0 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2002: 1 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2003: 1 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2004: 0 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2005: 2 studies, 2 with a test as a primary outcome20052006: 3 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2007: 5 studies, 3 with a test as a primary outcome2008: 2 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2009: 1 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2010: 2 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome20102011: 5 studies, 2 with a test as a primary outcome2012: 5 studies, 2 with a test as a primary outcome2013: 6 studies, 3 with a test as a primary outcome2014: 3 studies, 2 with a test as a primary outcome2015: 2 studies, 2 with a test as a primary outcome20152016: 4 studies, 3 with a test as a primary outcome2017: 2 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2018: 4 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2019: 3 studies, 2 with a test as a primary outcome2020: 1 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome20202021: 0 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2022: 3 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2023: 0 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2024: 1 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2025: 3 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome20252026: 6 studies, 2 with a test as a primary outcome

A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes

Show as a table
Registered studies by start year
Start yearStudiesA test as a primary outcome
200000
200100
200211
200311
200400
200522
200631
200753
200820
200911
201021
201152
201252
201363
201432
201522
201643
201720
201841
201932
202010
202100
202231
202300
202411
202530
202662

Phases and study sizes

By phase

  • Early phase 11 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 18 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 1/21 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 214 studies, 9 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 32 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 45 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Not applicable34 studies, 14 as a primary outcome
  • Observational1 studies, 0 as a primary outcome

Participants per study

102050100
  • Phase 243 median, 18 to 102
  • Not applicable60 median, 25 to 83
Participants per study. The bar spans the middle half of the studies in each phase, the mark is the median, and the axis is logarithmic. Phases with fewer than 10 studies that give a size are left out.
Show as a table
Participants per schizophrenia and psychosis study that names the N-Back Task, by phase
PhaseStudies with a sizeMedianMiddle half
Phase 2144318 to 102
Not applicable346025 to 83

When schizophrenia and psychosis trials measure it

Half of the primary outcomes that name the N-Back Task are measured within 4 weeks of the start, and the middle half from 4 days to 12 weeks. 30 primary outcomes give a duration.

Latest time point of each outcome

  • Within a day7 outcomes, 5 as a primary outcome
  • Up to 4 weeks25 outcomes, 12 as a primary outcome
  • 1 to 3 months18 outcomes, 9 as a primary outcome
  • 3 to 6 months7 outcomes, 4 as a primary outcome
  • 6 to 12 months3 outcomes, 0 as a primary outcome
  • No duration given6 outcomes, 2 as a primary outcome

A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes

60 of the 66 outcome measures give a duration. A single visit counts as within a day.

Status, results, interventions and countries

Status

  • Recruiting6 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Not yet recruiting6 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Active, not recruiting3 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Completed38 studies, 17 as a primary outcome
  • Stopped early5 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
  • Status unknown8 studies, 3 as a primary outcome

What they test

  • Behavioral8 studies, 5 as a primary outcome
  • Drug32 studies, 17 as a primary outcome
  • Device22 studies, 9 as a primary outcome
  • Procedure3 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Other8 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
  • None given1 studies, 0 as a primary outcome

Intervention types as registered. A study can list several; observational studies often list none.

Where their sites are

  • United States28 studies, 17 as a primary outcome
  • Canada8 studies, 5 as a primary outcome
  • China5 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
  • Germany4 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • South Korea3 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • United Kingdom3 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Taiwan2 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
  • Belgium1 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Brazil1 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
  • France1 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
  • Iran1 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Spain1 studies, 0 as a primary outcome

13 countries in all. A study with sites in several counts in each; 7 list no site.

Reported results

Completed studies with results posted on ClinicalTrials.gov, a results paper the registry links to the study, or both.

Completed schizophrenia and psychosis studies that name the N-Back Task: 21 of 38, 55%

Every completed study with a cognitive outcome: 3,626 of 7,953, 46%

Completed schizophrenia and psychosis studies that name the N-Back Task and every completed study, by how they reported results
ResultsCompleted schizophrenia and psychosis studies that name the N-Back TaskEvery completed study
Results on ClinicalTrials.gov and a paper7, 18%776, 10%
Results on ClinicalTrials.gov only4, 11%1,139, 14%
A results paper only10, 26%1,711, 22%
Neither17, 45%4,327, 54%

The 66 studies

Filter by phase, sponsor, status, country, intervention, outcome list, size and start year. Each study links to its record on ClinicalTrials.gov.
ConditionSchizophrenia and psychosis
TestThe N-Back Task

66 studies match. 32 name the N-Back Task in a primary outcome. Median size 58 participants. Median time to the primary outcome: 4 weeks.

Loading 66 studies; the filters turn on when they arrive.

By start year
02462000: 0 studies, 0 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome20002001: 0 studies, 0 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2002: 1 studies, 1 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2003: 1 studies, 1 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2004: 0 studies, 0 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2005: 2 studies, 2 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome20052006: 3 studies, 1 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2007: 5 studies, 3 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2008: 2 studies, 0 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2009: 1 studies, 1 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2010: 2 studies, 1 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome20102011: 5 studies, 2 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2012: 5 studies, 2 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2013: 6 studies, 3 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2014: 3 studies, 2 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2015: 2 studies, 2 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome20152016: 4 studies, 3 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2017: 2 studies, 0 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2018: 4 studies, 1 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2019: 3 studies, 2 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2020: 1 studies, 0 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome20202021: 0 studies, 0 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2022: 3 studies, 1 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2023: 0 studies, 0 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2024: 1 studies, 1 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome2025: 3 studies, 0 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome20252026: 6 studies, 2 naming the N-Back Task in a primary outcome

2026 is partly planned starts. Not shown: 1 planned to start after 2026.

Show as a table
Matching studies by start year
Start yearStudiesAs a primary outcome
200000
200100
200211
200311
200400
200522
200631
200753
200820
200911
201021
201152
201252
201363
201432
201522
201643
201720
201841
201932
202010
202100
202231
202300
202411
202530
202662

Library tests named most

  • N-Back Task66 studies, 32 as a primary outcome
  • Continuous Performance Test13 studies, 5 as a primary outcome
  • AX Continuous Performance Test9 studies, 7 as a primary outcome
  • Verbal Learning8 studies, 5 as a primary outcome
  • Verbal Fluency7 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Digit Span Test6 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Monetary Incentive Delay5 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Tower Planning5 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Stroop Color-Word Test5 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Paced Visual Serial Addition Test4 studies, 2 as a primary outcome

Conditions

  • Schizophrenia and psychosis66 studies, 32 as a primary outcome
  • Substance use and addiction5 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Depression and bipolar disorder3 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Dementia and Alzheimer's1 study, 0 as a primary outcome
  • Brain injury and concussion1 study, 1 as a primary outcome
  • ADHD1 study, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Healthy volunteers1 study, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Obesity and diabetes1 study, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Delirium, surgery and intensive care1 study, 0 as a primary outcome
  • Cardiovascular disease1 study, 1 as a primary outcome

Phases

Participants

Lead sponsor: industry 10, NIH 2, other 54. Interventional 65, observational 1.

As a primary outcomeSecondary or other outcomeThe N-Back Task

The studies, newest registration first

Each number opens the study's record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Registered studies that match the filters, newest registration first, with the library tests each one names and the outcome list that names them.
StudyStartPhaseConditionsParticipantsLead sponsorStatusLibrary tests named, with the latest time point
NCT07806877Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants60Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Stroop Color-Word TestPrimary6 weeks
  • N-Back TaskSecondary6 weeks
  • Card Sorting Test (Berg)Primary6 weeks
  • Paced Visual Serial Addition TestPrimary6 weeks
  • Oddball Target DetectionSecondary6 weeks
NCT07659938Start2027PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants30Lead sponsorIndustryStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • N-Back TaskPrimary12 weeks
NCT07592169Start2026PhasePhase 2ConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants104Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • N-Back TaskPrimary12 weeks
NCT07342465Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants20Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • N-Back TaskSecondary
NCT07226895Start2026PhasePhase 1/2ConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants150Lead sponsorIndustryStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Symbol CodingSecondary8 weeks
  • N-Back TaskSecondary8 weeks
  • Continuous Performance TestSecondary8 weeks
  • Emoji Emotion RecognitionSecondary8 weeks
  • Finger Tapping TaskSecondary8 weeks
NCT07006935Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants30Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • N-Back TaskPrimary6 months
  • Continuous Performance TestPrimary6 months
  • AX Continuous Performance TestPrimary6 months
  • Emoji Emotion RecognitionSecondary6 months
  • Indirect Hints TaskSecondary6 months
NCT06936397Start2025PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants60Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruiting

Paper

Library tests named
  • N-Back TaskSecondary12 weeks
  • Oddball Target DetectionPrimary12 weeks
NCT06907420Start2025PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants20Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Symbol CodingSecondary5 days
  • N-Back TaskSecondary5 days
  • Choice Reaction TimeSecondary5 days
NCT06904092Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants140Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • N-Back TaskSecondary8 weeks
NCT06880328Start2018PhasePhase 1ConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants35Lead sponsorIndustryStatusCompletedLibrary tests named
  • N-Back TaskSecondary5 weeks
  • Monetary Incentive DelaySecondary5 weeks
NCT06740747Start2025PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants60Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • N-Back TaskSecondary
NCT06315972Start2024PhasePhase 2ConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants90Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • N-Back TaskPrimary13 weeks
NCT05695144Start2022PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants120Lead sponsorOtherStatusStatus unknownLibrary tests named
  • N-Back TaskSecondary4 weeks
  • Task Switching TestSecondary4 weeks
NCT05582980Start2020PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants60Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompleted

Paper

Library tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary2 weeks
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary2 weeks
  • Verbal FluencySecondary1 week
  • Digit Span TestSecondary2 weeks
  • N-Back TaskSecondary2 weeks
  • Card Sorting Test (Berg)Secondary2 weeks
  • Tower PlanningSecondary2 weeks
  • Finger Tapping TaskSecondary2 weeks
NCT05310955Start2022PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants60Lead sponsorOtherStatusStatus unknown

Paper 1Paper 2

Library tests named
  • N-Back TaskOther outcome13 weeks
NCT05200962Start2022PhasePhase 1ConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants30Lead sponsorOtherStatusStatus unknownLibrary tests named
  • N-Back TaskPrimarysame day
NCT04545294Start2019PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants36Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompletedLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary2 weeks
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary2 weeks
  • Digit Span TestSecondary2 weeks
  • N-Back TaskSecondary5 weeks
  • Card Sorting Test (Berg)Secondary2 weeks
  • Tower PlanningSecondary2 weeks
  • Finger Tapping TaskSecondary2 weeks
NCT04296604Start2014PhaseNot applicableConditionsBrain injury and concussion, Schizophrenia and psychosis, Depression and bipolar disorder, ADHD, Substance use and addictionParticipants600Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • N-Back TaskPrimary1 week
  • Eriksen Flanker TaskSecondary1 week
  • Stop-Signal TaskSecondary1 week
  • Iowa Gambling LiteSecondary1 week
NCT03896438Start2019PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants12Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompleted

Results

Library tests named
  • N-Back TaskPrimarysame day
  • AX Continuous Performance TestPrimarysame day
NCT03868358Start2017PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants60Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompletedLibrary tests named
  • N-Back TaskSecondary2 weeks
  • Spatial N-Back TaskSecondary2 weeks
NCT03756610Start2018PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants90Lead sponsorOtherStatusStatus unknownLibrary tests named
  • N-Back TaskSecondary8 weeks
  • Paced Visual Serial Addition TestSecondary8 weeks
NCT03621540Start2018PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants37Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompletedLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary12 weeks
  • Verbal FluencySecondary12 weeks
  • N-Back TaskPrimary4 days
NCT03208036Start2018PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosis, Depression and bipolar disorderParticipants22Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompleted

Results

Library tests named
  • N-Back TaskSecondary6 months
  • Continuous Performance TestPrimary6 months
  • AX Continuous Performance TestPrimary6 months
  • Reading Span TaskPrimary6 months
NCT03188133Start2017PhaseNot applicableConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants90Lead sponsorOtherStatusStatus unknownLibrary tests named
  • Verbal LearningSecondary6 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary6 months
  • N-Back TaskSecondary6 months
  • Delayed Match-to-SampleSecondary6 months
NCT02928965Start2013PhasePhase 2ConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosisParticipants207Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompletedLibrary tests named
  • Verbal FluencyOther outcome12 months
  • N-Back TaskOther outcome12 months

Page 1 of 3

Questions, answered from the data

How many schizophrenia and psychosis trials use the N-Back Task?

66 registered schizophrenia and psychosis studies on ClinicalTrials.gov name it in an outcome measure, 32 of them in a primary outcome: 10% of the condition's 640 studies with a cognitive outcome, against 5% of all of them. It is the 5th most named test in schizophrenia and psychosis trials.

Which tests do schizophrenia and psychosis trials use with the N-Back Task?

The Continuous Performance Test (13 studies), the AX Continuous Performance Test (9 studies) and Verbal Learning (8 studies).

How many participants do phase 2 schizophrenia and psychosis trials that use the N-Back Task enroll?

Half of the phase 2 studies that name it enroll 43 participants or fewer, and the middle half enroll 18 to 102. 14 of them give a size.

When do schizophrenia and psychosis trials measure the N-Back Task?

Half of the primary outcomes that name the N-Back Task are measured within 4 weeks of the start, and the middle half from 4 days to 12 weeks. 30 primary outcomes give a duration.

How many completed schizophrenia and psychosis trials that use the N-Back Task have reported results?

21 of the 38 completed studies that name it, 55%, have reported results: 11 posted them on ClinicalTrials.gov, 17 have a results paper linked to the registry record, and 7 did both. The other 17 show neither. Of all completed studies with a cognitive outcome, 46% have reported results.

More on the N-Back Task and schizophrenia and psychosis

  • Every cognitive test in schizophrenia and psychosis trials: 640 studies
  • The N-Back Task in all clinical trials: 790 studies

The N-Back Task in other conditions

  • Depression and bipolar disorder79
  • Aging, frailty and exercise68
  • Substance use and addiction68
  • Healthy volunteers51
  • Sleep and sleep disorders51

Other tests in schizophrenia and psychosis trials

  • Verbal Learning112
  • Verbal Fluency107
  • Trail Making Test102
  • Continuous Performance Test78
  • Digit Span Test66
  • Emoji Emotion Recognition52
  • Card Sorting Test (Berg)50

How the studies are counted

For each test family, the census runs ClinicalTrials.gov's own outcome search for the family's names and reads every study first posted by the day the family was counted. These studies were read on 10 November 2026. A study counts once on a page, however many tests it names. Counts for a test cover every version of the task under any of its names, so a page can count studies that used a commercial version.

The census adds two things to each record and changes nothing in it: which outcome list names the test (primary, then secondary, then other), and the condition groups, matched on the study's condition names and MeSH terms. A study can fall in several groups; one whose only condition is cognitive impairment or decline falls in “Cognitive impairment and decline”. Studies that name only instruments outside the library count in every total and share but are not listed.

A second read on 10 November 2026 added each study's overall status, whether results are posted, its intervention types, the countries of its sites and the time frame of the outcome that names each test. A time frame counts by the latest time point it names: “Baseline, 12 and 24 weeks” is 24 weeks, a single visit is within a day, and one that names no duration, such as “end of treatment”, is left out of the timings.

A third read on 10 November 2026 added the papers the registry links to each study: those its sponsor lists as reporting results, and those PubMed links to it through the study's NCT number. A study has a results paper when one of them came out in or after the month of its primary completion and PubMed does not class it as a protocol, review or comment. A paper that never gives the NCT number is not linked, so some studies counted as reporting neither did publish.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, which does not endorse these pages. Every study line is in the data release 2.1.0, and the explorer's own file is clinical-trials-studies.json.

The census counts 1-Back Task and 2-Back Task as one test family, so this page counts their studies together.

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