ConductCognition
  • Domains

    Tests

    • Processing speed43
    • Attention113
    • Working memory50
    • Executive function143
    • Episodic memory72
    • Response inhibition9
    • Social cognition75
    • Language42

    Most used

    Evidence

    1. Verbal Fluency TestGradeA
    2. Stroop Color-Word TestGradeA
    3. Trail Making TestGradeA
    4. N-Back TaskGradeA
    5. Go/No-Go TaskGradeA
    6. Digit Span TestGradeA
    7. Symbol Coding TestGradeA
    8. Verbal Learning TestGradeA
    REDTry it nowStroop Color-Word Test
    All 547 tests

    Browse by

    • Phone290
    • Tablet323
    • Untimed326
    • Up to 5 minutes69
    • Evidence grade A40
  • First studies

    Grade, length

    • Reaction Time StudyGradeA7 min
    • Pilot ScreeningGradeA15 min
    • Medication StudiesGradeA−26 min
    • Language-Minimized ScreeningGradeA−30 min

    Age groups

    • Older Adult Executive SpeedGradeA20 min
    • School-AgeGradeA−33 min

    Memory

    • At-Home MemoryGradeA26 min
    • Working Memory and LearningGradeA−19 min
    • Associative MemoryGradeB32 min
    • Working Memory CapacityGradeB34 min

    Language and perception

    • LanguageGradeA−33 min
    • Visual PerceptionGradeB27 min
    • Listening and Auditory ProcessingGradeB31 min

    Executive function and attention

    • Executive ControlGradeA18 min
    • Attention and ImpulsivityGradeA−26 min
    • Visual AttentionGradeB27 min
    • Creativity and Flexible ThinkingGradeB30 min
    • Reasoning and SpatialGradeB32 min

    Movement

    • Motor and AttentionGradeA−29 min
    • Motor LearningGradeB34 min

    Behavior, mood and choice

    • Food Choice and Self-ControlGradeA−29 min
    • Sleep and FatigueGradeB23 min
    • Social CognitionGradeB23 min
    • Impulsivity and Substance UseGradeB26 min
    • Emotion and MoodGradeB28 min
    • Decisions and RewardGradeB29 min
    All 26 batteries

    Find one

    Up to 15 minutes2Up to 30 minutes19Phone8
    Test order labBattery gradesHow batteries work
  • Use and evidence

    • Overview
    • Compare all 547 tests
    • Test-retest
    • Reliability and validity
    • Battery grades26
    • Download and cite

    Clinical trials

    • Overview
    • By condition25
    • By test101
    • Trial design benchmark
    • Cognitive outcomes, 2026

    Conditions

    Registered studies

    • Dementia and Alzheimer's1,673
    • Aging, frailty and exercise1,398
    • Depression and bipolar disorder1,247
    • Stroke1,233
    • Substance use and addiction895
    • Parkinson's disease892
    • Cancer760
    All 25 conditions
    16,361Registered studies name a cognitive test in an outcome measure11,688 name a test you can run hereExplore the studies
  • 1

    Build

    • Study design
    • Customize tests
    • Repeat visits
    • Study cost calculator
    2

    Recruit

    • Recruitment setup
    • Prolific
    • Sona Systems
    • CloudResearch Connect
    • Qualtrics
    3

    Run

    • Remote testing
    • Participant devices
    • Phone timing check
    • Offline edition
    4

    Results

    • Automated scoring
    • Test norms
    • Study Quality Monitor
    • Data export
    Platform overview

    Compliance

    • HIPAA-ready testing
    • US clinical research
    • Data Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
  • Research areas

    Tests used in each

    • Aging and dementia188
    • Decisions and reward105
    • Child development and education87
    • Language and bilingualism64
    • Social behavior62
    • Psychiatric groups35
    • Training and intervention28
    • Mood, anxiety and trauma25
    • Substance use and impulsivity25
    • Neurological and movement research19
    • Brain injury and concussion14
    • Sleep and fatigue14
    • ADHD11
    • Eating and obesity8
    • Medication and drug trials8

    Research settings

    • Student participant pools
    • Teaching a class
    • Clinical trials
    • US clinical research
    • Sites without internet
    Planning a study?
  • Methods

    • How evidence grades work
    • How test batteries work
    • How test order works
    Methods and questions

    Help

    • FAQ
    • Recruitment guides
    • Compare platforms

    Updates

    • Blog
    • New tests by email
    Latest post10 November 2026What you can do in ConductCognition todayA short tour of ConductCognition as it stands on 10 November. After this, we'll post when something changes how you run a study.Read the post
  • Pricing
Start Free
Log In
Log InStart Free
  1. Home
  2. /Data
  3. /Clinical trials
  4. /Tests
  5. /Digit Span Test

Clinical trials data

Digit Span Test in clinical trials: 1,629 registered studies

Every registered study on ClinicalTrials.gov that names the Digit Span Test in an outcome measure: the conditions it is used in, how often it is a primary outcome, the tests it is named with, and how large the studies are.

Registered studies name it in an outcome measure
1,629
Name it in a primary outcome, 37%
603 of 1,629
Against similar tests
Of studies started 2021 to 2025 name it, against 9.7% in 2016 to 2020
9.8%
By year
Median participants per study
61
By phase
Try the Digit Span Test

The conditions it is used in

Each study counted once in each condition group it falls in.
  1. Dementia and Alzheimer's181 studies, 61 as a primary outcome

  2. Mild cognitive impairment169 studies, 77 as a primary outcome

  3. Depression and bipolar disorder143 studies, 44 as a primary outcome

  4. Aging, frailty and exercise129 studies, 55 as a primary outcome

  5. Cancer107 studies, 41 as a primary outcome

  6. Stroke100 studies, 30 as a primary outcome

  7. Brain injury and concussion98 studies, 40 as a primary outcome

  8. Parkinson's disease86 studies, 15 as a primary outcome

  9. Anxiety, PTSD and OCD72 studies, 27 as a primary outcome

  10. Schizophrenia and psychosis66 studies, 15 as a primary outcome

  11. Healthy volunteers64 studies, 31 as a primary outcome

  12. Obesity and diabetes64 studies, 26 as a primary outcome

  13. Sleep and sleep disorders63 studies, 23 as a primary outcome

  14. Pain and fatigue61 studies, 29 as a primary outcome

  15. Cognitive impairment and decline60 studies, 29 as a primary outcome

  16. Cardiovascular disease59 studies, 20 as a primary outcome

  17. ADHD58 studies, 24 as a primary outcome

  18. Substance use and addiction48 studies, 20 as a primary outcome

  19. Delirium, surgery and intensive care44 studies, 20 as a primary outcome

  20. COVID-19 and long COVID31 studies, 14 as a primary outcome

  21. Multiple sclerosis25 studies, 10 as a primary outcome

  22. Epilepsy15 studies, 4 as a primary outcome

  23. Hearing loss14 studies, 7 as a primary outcome

  24. Autism8 studies, 1 as a primary outcome

  25. Lung disease7 studies, 2 as a primary outcome

  26. Huntington's disease5 studies, 1 as a primary outcome

  27. Other conditions247 studies, 99 as a primary outcome

A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes

How often it is a primary outcome

The Digit Span Test is a primary outcome in 37% of its studies. Across the 10 working memory tests with a page here, the median is 45%.
  1. Sternberg Memory Scanning50% of 38 studies

  2. Operation Span50% of 24 studies

  3. Mental Rotation48% of 64 studies

  4. N-Back Task48% of 790 studies

  5. Spatial Working Memory46% of 78 studies

  6. Letter-Number Sequencing Task43% of 184 studies

  7. Corsi Block-Tapping Test43% of 181 studies

  8. Digit Span Test37% of 1,629 studies

  9. Reading Span Task36% of 22 studies

  10. Size Order Memory Test35% of 162 studies

Studies by start year

9.8% of the registered studies that started in 2021 to 2025 name it, against 9.7% of those that started in 2016 to 2020. 2026 is partly planned starts.
01002000: 3 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome20002001: 2 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2002: 1 studies, 0 with a test as a primary outcome2003: 4 studies, 3 with a test as a primary outcome2004: 4 studies, 2 with a test as a primary outcome2005: 7 studies, 2 with a test as a primary outcome20052006: 4 studies, 1 with a test as a primary outcome2007: 14 studies, 4 with a test as a primary outcome2008: 19 studies, 8 with a test as a primary outcome2009: 22 studies, 11 with a test as a primary outcome2010: 37 studies, 15 with a test as a primary outcome20102011: 26 studies, 12 with a test as a primary outcome2012: 36 studies, 16 with a test as a primary outcome2013: 44 studies, 17 with a test as a primary outcome2014: 49 studies, 24 with a test as a primary outcome2015: 79 studies, 26 with a test as a primary outcome20152016: 69 studies, 24 with a test as a primary outcome2017: 82 studies, 20 with a test as a primary outcome2018: 85 studies, 33 with a test as a primary outcome2019: 110 studies, 39 with a test as a primary outcome2020: 90 studies, 31 with a test as a primary outcome20202021: 122 studies, 49 with a test as a primary outcome2022: 121 studies, 41 with a test as a primary outcome2023: 164 studies, 64 with a test as a primary outcome2024: 141 studies, 59 with a test as a primary outcome2025: 147 studies, 53 with a test as a primary outcome20252026: 137 studies, 45 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
200030
200120
200210
200343
200442
200572
200641
2007144
2008198
20092211
20103715
20112612
20123616
20134417
20144924
20157926
20166924
20178220
20188533
201911039
20209031
202112249
202212141
202316464
202414159
202514753
202613745

Phases and study sizes

By phase

  • Early phase 110 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 125 studies, 8 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 1/221 studies, 7 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 2137 studies, 41 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 2/315 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 343 studies, 14 as a primary outcome
  • Phase 459 studies, 15 as a primary outcome
  • Not applicable1,110 studies, 420 as a primary outcome
  • Observational209 studies, 96 as a primary outcome

Participants per study

102050100200500
  • Phase 136 median, 16 to 80
  • Phase 1/220 median, 8 to 42
  • Phase 260 median, 38 to 101
  • Phase 2/399 median, 67 to 304
  • Phase 3172 median, 68 to 393
  • Phase 460 median, 33 to 155
  • Not applicable60 median, 33 to 106
  • Observational100 median, 60 to 228
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 study that names the Digit Span Test, by phase
PhaseStudies with a sizeMedianMiddle half
Phase 1253616 to 80
Phase 1/218208 to 42
Phase 21316038 to 101
Phase 2/3159967 to 304
Phase 34317268 to 393
Phase 4586033 to 155
Not applicable1,0906033 to 106
Observational20710060 to 228

When trials measure it

Half of the primary outcomes that name the Digit Span Test are measured within 12 weeks of the start, and the middle half from 3 weeks to 6 months. 570 primary outcomes give a duration.

Latest time point of each outcome

  • Within a day200 outcomes, 88 as a primary outcome
  • Up to 4 weeks243 outcomes, 102 as a primary outcome
  • 1 to 3 months481 outcomes, 179 as a primary outcome
  • 3 to 6 months313 outcomes, 96 as a primary outcome
  • 6 to 12 months172 outcomes, 49 as a primary outcome
  • 1 to 2 years78 outcomes, 26 as a primary outcome
  • Over 2 years64 outcomes, 30 as a primary outcome
  • No duration given78 outcomes, 33 as a primary outcome

A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes

1,551 of the 1,629 outcome measures give a duration. A single visit counts as within a day.

Status, results, interventions and countries

Status

  • Recruiting287 studies, 104 as a primary outcome
  • Not yet recruiting96 studies, 34 as a primary outcome
  • Active, not recruiting66 studies, 21 as a primary outcome
  • Completed782 studies, 303 as a primary outcome
  • Stopped early112 studies, 39 as a primary outcome
  • Status unknown286 studies, 102 as a primary outcome

What they test

  • Behavioral520 studies, 195 as a primary outcome
  • Drug276 studies, 84 as a primary outcome
  • Device312 studies, 86 as a primary outcome
  • Dietary supplement114 studies, 56 as a primary outcome
  • Procedure55 studies, 19 as a primary outcome
  • Diagnostic test37 studies, 15 as a primary outcome
  • Biological12 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
  • Radiation16 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
  • Combination product8 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
  • Genetic3 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
  • Other432 studies, 168 as a primary outcome
  • None given92 studies, 47 as a primary outcome

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

Where their sites are

  • United States498 studies, 192 as a primary outcome
  • Canada103 studies, 24 as a primary outcome
  • China91 studies, 26 as a primary outcome
  • Taiwan84 studies, 31 as a primary outcome
  • Spain80 studies, 38 as a primary outcome
  • Italy69 studies, 26 as a primary outcome
  • United Kingdom68 studies, 21 as a primary outcome
  • Hong Kong62 studies, 21 as a primary outcome
  • Netherlands53 studies, 12 as a primary outcome
  • France52 studies, 7 as a primary outcome
  • Germany41 studies, 10 as a primary outcome
  • Switzerland38 studies, 8 as a primary outcome

72 countries in all. A study with sites in several counts in each; 108 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 studies that name the Digit Span Test: 370 of 782, 47%

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

Completed studies that name the Digit Span Test and every completed study, by how they reported results
ResultsCompleted studies that name the Digit Span TestEvery completed study
Results on ClinicalTrials.gov and a paper74, 9%776, 10%
Results on ClinicalTrials.gov only101, 13%1,139, 14%
A results paper only195, 25%1,711, 22%
Neither412, 53%4,327, 54%

Tests named in the same studies

The library tests that studies naming the Digit Span Test name most often beside it.
  1. 1

    Trail Making Test692 studies, 243 as a primary outcome

  2. 2

    Verbal Fluency527 studies, 188 as a primary outcome

  3. 3

    Verbal Learning516 studies, 216 as a primary outcome

  4. 4

    Stroop Color-Word Test451 studies, 183 as a primary outcome

  5. 5

    Symbol Coding307 studies, 117 as a primary outcome

  6. 6

    Category Fluency248 studies, 104 as a primary outcome

  7. 7

    Picture Naming Test148 studies, 59 as a primary outcome

  8. 8

    Continuous Performance Test140 studies, 62 as a primary outcome

  9. 9

    Short Story Recall134 studies, 61 as a primary outcome

  10. 10

    Card Sorting Test (Berg)120 studies, 47 as a primary outcome

A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes

Compared over time

Studies per start year for the Digit Span Test and the tests named with it most. Add or remove tests to compare.
Digit Span Test1,619 studies, 2000 to 2026
01252502000201020202026
Trail Making Test2,281 studies, 2000 to 2026
01252502000201020202026
Verbal Fluency1,737 studies, 2000 to 2026
01252502000201020202026
Verbal Learning1,819 studies, 2000 to 2026
01252502000201020202026

The panel's testThe other tests chosenEvery panel has the same scale. 2026 is partly planned starts.

Show as a table
Registered studies per start year that name each test
Start yearDigit Span TestTrail Making TestVerbal FluencyVerbal Learning
20003211
20012015
20021338
200348414
2004410914
20057141917
2006414913
200714212222
200819171828
200922292928
201037322942
201126473633
201236443442
201344605853
201449665982
201579857991
2016691038598
20178212293107
20188511710792
2019110155121122
2020901229076
2021122172131137
2022121188123138
2023164228147157
2024141211130144
2025147210167132
2026137201133123

Explore the 1,629 studies

Filter by condition, phase, sponsor, status, country, intervention, outcome list, size and start year. Each study links to its record on ClinicalTrials.gov.
TestThe Digit Span Test

1,629 studies match. 603 name the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome. Median size 61 participants. Median time to the primary outcome: 12 weeks.

Loading 1,629 studies; the filters turn on when they arrive.

By start year
0501001502002000: 3 studies, 0 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome20002001: 2 studies, 0 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2002: 1 studies, 0 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2003: 4 studies, 3 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2004: 4 studies, 2 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2005: 7 studies, 2 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome20052006: 4 studies, 1 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2007: 14 studies, 4 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2008: 19 studies, 8 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2009: 22 studies, 11 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2010: 37 studies, 15 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome20102011: 26 studies, 12 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2012: 36 studies, 16 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2013: 44 studies, 17 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2014: 49 studies, 24 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2015: 79 studies, 26 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome20152016: 69 studies, 24 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2017: 82 studies, 20 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2018: 85 studies, 33 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2019: 110 studies, 39 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2020: 90 studies, 31 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome20202021: 122 studies, 49 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2022: 121 studies, 41 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2023: 164 studies, 64 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2024: 141 studies, 59 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome2025: 147 studies, 53 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome20252026: 137 studies, 45 naming the Digit Span Test in a primary outcome

2026 is partly planned starts. Not shown: 2 that started before 2000 and 8 planned to start after 2026.

Show as a table
Matching studies by start year
Start yearStudiesAs a primary outcome
200030
200120
200210
200343
200442
200572
200641
2007144
2008198
20092211
20103715
20112612
20123616
20134417
20144924
20157926
20166924
20178220
20188533
201911039
20209031
202112249
202212141
202316464
202414159
202514753
202613745

Library tests named most

  • Digit Span Test1,629 studies, 603 as a primary outcome
  • Trail Making Test692 studies, 243 as a primary outcome
  • Verbal Fluency527 studies, 188 as a primary outcome
  • Verbal Learning516 studies, 216 as a primary outcome
  • Stroop Color-Word Test451 studies, 183 as a primary outcome
  • Symbol Coding307 studies, 117 as a primary outcome
  • Category Fluency248 studies, 104 as a primary outcome
  • Picture Naming Test148 studies, 59 as a primary outcome
  • Continuous Performance Test140 studies, 62 as a primary outcome
  • Short Story Recall134 studies, 61 as a primary outcome

Largest condition groups

Phases

Participants

Lead sponsor: industry 102, NIH 3, other 1,524. Interventional 1,420, observational 209.

As a primary outcomeSecondary or other outcomeThe Digit Span Test

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
NCT07908147Start2027PhaseEarly phase 1ConditionsCancerParticipants12Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary5 years
  • Verbal LearningSecondary5 years
  • Verbal FluencySecondary5 years
  • Digit Span TestSecondary5 years
NCT07906847Start2026PhaseObservationalConditionsPain and fatigueParticipants80Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary
  • Stroop Color-Word TestPrimary
  • Digit Span TestPrimary
NCT07899242Start2025PhaseNot applicableConditionsOther conditionsParticipants242Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompletedLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary5 months
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary5 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary5 months
NCT07897474Start2026PhaseObservationalConditionsSleep and sleep disordersParticipants100Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary
  • Stroop Color-Word TestPrimary
  • Digit Span TestPrimary
  • Symbol CodingPrimary
  • Psychomotor Vigilance TaskPrimary
NCT07891650Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsCognitive impairment and declineParticipants160Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary6 months
  • Verbal LearningSecondary6 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary6 months
NCT07887776Start2025PhaseObservationalConditionsStrokeParticipants66Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompletedLibrary tests named
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary
  • Digit Span TestSecondary
NCT07883148Start2024PhaseNot applicableConditionsDementia and Alzheimer's, Mild cognitive impairmentParticipants52Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompletedLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary8 months
  • Verbal LearningSecondary8 months
  • Verbal FluencySecondary8 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary8 months
  • Complex Figure Copy and RecallSecondary8 months
NCT07882433Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsSleep and sleep disordersParticipants50Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary6 months
  • Stroop Color-Word TestSecondary6 months
  • Verbal FluencySecondary6 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary6 months
  • Paced Visual Serial Addition TestSecondary6 months
NCT07882251Start2021PhaseNot applicableConditionsDementia and Alzheimer'sParticipants80Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompletedLibrary tests named
  • Stroop Color-Word TestPrimary5 weeks
  • Verbal LearningPrimary5 weeks
  • Digit Span TestPrimary5 weeks
  • Category FluencyPrimary5 weeks
  • Complex Figure Copy and RecallPrimary5 weeks
  • Corsi Block-Tapping TestPrimary5 weeks
  • Line Angle MatchingPrimary5 weeks
NCT07878702Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsMultiple sclerosisParticipants30Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestSecondary7 weeks
NCT07878130Start2026PhasePhase 2ConditionsSubstance use and addictionParticipants100Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Verbal LearningSecondary13 weeks
  • Digit Span TestSecondarysame day
  • Delayed Recall ModuleSecondary13 weeks
NCT07869745Start2027PhaseNot applicableConditionsHearing lossParticipants76Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary6 months
  • Digit Span TestPrimary6 months
NCT07868653Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsOther conditionsParticipants80Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary13 weeks
  • Digit Span TestPrimary13 weeks
  • Eriksen Flanker TaskPrimary13 weeks
  • Task Switching TestSecondary13 weeks
NCT07864662Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsOther conditionsParticipants304Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestSecondary6 months
NCT07863518Start2024PhaseNot applicableConditionsMild cognitive impairmentParticipants61Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompletedLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestSecondary7 months
  • Arithmetic Fluency TaskPrimary7 months
NCT07862452Start2027PhaseNot applicableConditionsObesity and diabetes, Cardiovascular diseaseParticipants400Lead sponsorOtherStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestPrimary4 weeks
  • Matrix ReasoningPrimary4 weeks
  • Delay DiscountingPrimary4 weeks
NCT07848477Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsDepression and bipolar disorderParticipants60Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Verbal LearningPrimary2 weeks
  • Digit Span TestSecondary2 weeks
  • Symbol CodingSecondary2 weeks
  • N-Back TaskSecondary2 weeks
  • Go/No-Go TaskSecondary2 weeks
  • Paired Associate LearningSecondary2 weeks
  • Probabilistic Reversal LearningSecondary2 weeks
  • Mnemonic Similarity TaskSecondary2 weeks
  • Affective Go/No-GoSecondary2 weeks
  • Grid Pattern Span TaskSecondary2 weeks
NCT07841457Start2027PhaseNot applicableConditionsHealthy volunteersParticipants20Lead sponsorIndustryStatusNot yet recruitingLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestSecondary4 weeks
  • Matrix ReasoningSecondary4 weeks
NCT07838675Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsParkinson's diseaseParticipants120Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestSecondary6 months
  • Word Pair LearningSecondary6 months
NCT07835503Start2025PhaseNot applicableConditionsAging, frailty and exerciseParticipants49Lead sponsorOtherStatusCompletedLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestSecondary12 weeks
NCT07833787Start2025PhaseObservationalConditionsOther conditionsParticipants1,500Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestSecondary5 years
  • N-Back TaskSecondarysame day
  • Go/No-Go TaskSecondary5 years
  • Attention Network TestSecondarysame day
NCT07832695Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsParkinson's diseaseParticipants90Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Verbal FluencySecondary8 weeks
  • Digit Span TestSecondary8 weeks
NCT07830134Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsOther conditionsParticipants40Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Digit Span TestSecondary3 years
  • N-Back TaskPrimary3 years
  • Letter-Number Sequencing TaskSecondary3 years
NCT07829770Start2026PhaseNot applicableConditionsOther conditionsParticipants42Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestPrimary6 weeks
  • Stroop Color-Word TestPrimary6 weeks
  • Digit Span TestPrimary6 weeks
NCT07829029Start2022PhasePhase 4ConditionsOther conditionsParticipants270Lead sponsorOtherStatusRecruitingLibrary tests named
  • Trail Making TestSecondary6 months
  • Verbal LearningSecondary6 months
  • Digit Span TestSecondary6 months
  • Symbol CodingSecondary6 months

Page 1 of 66

Questions, answered from the data

How many clinical trials use the Digit Span Test?

1,629 registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov name it in an outcome measure, 603 of them in a primary outcome.

In which conditions do trials use the Digit Span Test?

Most often in dementia and Alzheimer's disease (181), mild cognitive impairment (169) and depression and bipolar disorder (143).

Do new trials use the Digit Span Test more or less?

9.8% of the studies that started in 2021 to 2025 name it, against 9.7% of those that started in 2016 to 2020: a share 1% larger.

Which tests do trials use with the Digit Span Test?

The Trail Making Test (692 studies), Verbal Fluency (527 studies) and Verbal Learning (516 studies).

How many participants do phase 2 trials that use the Digit Span Test enroll?

Half of the phase 2 studies that name it enroll 60 participants or fewer, and the middle half enroll 38 to 101. 131 of them give a size.

When do trials measure the Digit Span Test?

Half of the primary outcomes that name the Digit Span Test are measured within 12 weeks of the start, and the middle half from 3 weeks to 6 months. 570 primary outcomes give a duration.

How many completed trials that use the Digit Span Test have reported results?

370 of the 782 completed studies that name it, 47%, have reported results: 175 posted them on ClinicalTrials.gov, 269 have a results paper linked to the registry record, and 74 did both. The other 412 show neither. Of all completed studies with a cognitive outcome, 46% have reported results.

More on tests in clinical trials

  • Digit Span Test: what it measures, its scores, and a version to try
  • All 101 tests in clinical trials
  • Cognitive tests by condition
  • Every registered study, by test, condition, phase and year

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.

Run the Digit Span Test in your trial

Choose tests with a record in registered trials, and run them in a browser at every site, on the same version each visit.

Start free
ConductCognition

Hosted browser-native cognitive testing for academic and commercial research workflows.

A product of ConductScience, Inc.

New tests and features, about once a month. Unsubscribe at any time.

Tests

  • All cognitive tests
  • Test batteries
  • Use and evidence
  • Test norms
  • Trail Making Test
  • N-Back Task
  • Automated scoring
  • Study design
  • New tests by email

Guides

  • Methods and questions
  • Blog
  • Recruitment setup
  • Participant devices
  • Prolific
  • Sona Systems
  • CloudResearch Connect
  • Qualtrics

Use cases

  • Student participant pools
  • Aging and dementia research
  • Clinical trials
  • US clinical research
  • Remote testing

Compare and buy

  • Pricing
  • Compare platforms
  • Offline edition
  • FAQ

Trust

  • Study Quality Monitor
  • HIPAA-ready testing
  • Data export
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Data Policy

Company

  • ConductScience
  • Affiliate Program
© 2026 ConductScience, Inc. Research use only.