Working Memory

1-Back Task

Measure continuous working-memory maintenance with a low-load n-back task that fits remote participant workflows.

Useful for baseline working-memory studies, sustained monitoring, and lower-load memory batteries.

Working Memory3-4 minBrowser-based testing workflow

JMatch!

Is this the same as 1 back?

What this task measures

Measures working memory by requiring participants to indicate whether the current stimulus matches the one presented N items ago.

Core constructs

Working memory maintenance
Continuous performance monitoring
Memory updating
Sustained attention

Research fit

Working memory baseline assessment
Sustained attention monitoring
Cognitive load sensitivity profiling
Neurodevelopmental disorder screening

Why researchers use ConductCognition

Hosted browser delivery with no local install burden for participants.
Study setup, scoring, exports, and participant links in one workflow.
Transparent pricing instead of opaque enterprise quoting for solo labs.
Free entry tier plus Academic Pro when you need the full battery and trial-level exports.

Paradigm overview

The 1-Back task is a continuous working memory paradigm. Participants view a sequence of letters presented one at a time and must press the spacebar whenever the current letter matches the letter shown one position back. Non-matching letters require no response.

The task requires participants to continuously maintain the most recent stimulus in working memory, compare it with the incoming stimulus, make a match/non-match decision, and update their memory with the new stimulus. This maintenance-and-updating cycle engages the phonological loop component of Baddeley's working memory model.

Performance is analyzed using signal detection theory: d-prime separates the participant's ability to discriminate targets from non-targets, independent of their overall tendency to respond. The 1-Back provides a lower-demand baseline against which the 2-Back can be compared to isolate the cost of increased working memory load.

Key scoring outputs

Overall Accuracy

proportion

Proportion of all trials (targets + non-targets) correctly classified.

Higher is better

Hits

count

Number of targets correctly identified (pressed spacebar on match).

Higher is better

Misses

count

Number of targets missed (failed to press on match).

Lower is better

False Alarms

count

Responses to non-target stimuli (pressed spacebar on non-match).

Lower is better

Correct Rejections

count

Non-target stimuli correctly ignored.

Higher is better

d-Prime

Signal detection sensitivity: Z(hit rate) - Z(false alarm rate). Primary measure of working memory discriminability.

Higher is better

Hit RT

Average reaction time on correct target detections.

Lower is better

Research evidence and scoring context

Bopp KL, Verhaeghen P (2020). Aging and n-back performance: A meta-analysis. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 75(2):229-240.

Reference reviewed18-79

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Related task pages

2-Back Task Digit Span Test

Research FAQ

Common questions about this online cognitive test

Can I run the 1-Back Task online?

Yes. ConductCognition runs the 1-Back Task in a browser-based participant flow with study setup, automated scoring, and export-ready results.

What does this test measure?

1-Back Task is used for working memory maintenance, continuous performance monitoring, memory updating research workflows.

What data can researchers export?

Researchers can export scored results, and paid plans support trial-level exports for deeper analysis.

Is this for clinical diagnosis?

ConductCognition is for research use. The platform supports task delivery, scoring, and exports; clinical interpretation remains outside the platform.