Dual N-Back · Guides
Dual n-back difficulty: compare one change at a time
A practical before-and-after worksheet for changing N while keeping the rest of your session comparable.
In this guide6
Define the question first
Write a narrow question before opening the settings: can I follow both streams at the next available N? This is different from asking whether training has improved intelligence. Your comparison concerns performance in this exercise. If the meaning of N is still unclear, read the levels guide first and work through a written sequence before attempting an experiment.
Save a baseline configuration
Record the mode, N, audio setting, feedback and trial count from your current session. Include the date and anything unusual, such as an interruption or a different sound output. Use a plain note if the history does not record every setting. The settings guide explains the controls; this worksheet gives you a way to preserve the comparison you intend to make.
Dual N-Back settings on iPhone: audio, feedback and levelsChange N alone
For the next comparison, change only the available N level. Keep the other recorded settings the same. Increasing N changes the number of turns separating the current item from its comparison item; it does not add another stream. A level can also be restricted by progression or purchase access. Read its label rather than assuming that an unavailable option signals a technical problem.
N-back levels explained: N=1, N=2, N=3 and beyondKeep the two results separate
Write the baseline result and the new-level result on separate lines. Copy the accuracy shown for each signal, rather than remembering only your best percentage. A lower result at a higher N is not evidence that your memory has worsened. You have changed the task. If you also changed feedback or session length, mark that comparison as mixed and avoid attributing the difference to N alone.
Dual n-back scoring: formulas, examples and calculatorRepeat when conditions allow
One unusually good or difficult block cannot explain the pattern. Repeat the same configuration on another occasion if you want more observations, and record interruptions honestly. There is no required number of repetitions here and no scientifically validated training dose is implied. If following the rule becomes confusing, return to an available familiar configuration and check the comparison distance instead of adding more changes.
Choose the next practical step
Finish with one decision: keep exploring that level, return to the familiar one, or learn the rule more clearly. Preserve both rows of your note. Dual N-Back provides session results and a local history, but those results remain task results. For formulas and error types, use the scoring guide; for claims about broader benefits, consult the separate evidence guide. This guide is published by the app’s developer.
Questions
Does a lower score at a higher N mean I regressed?
No. The comparison distance changed. Treat the configurations separately before interpreting their results.
What if I changed two settings?
Record both changes and avoid claiming that either one alone caused the difference.
Further reading
Guides
How to play dual n-back: a clear first session
Understand position matches, sound matches and the meaning of N before your first dual n-back session.
Does dual n-back training work? What the evidence actually says
An honest walk through the research on dual n-back: what improves, what does not, why the meta-analyses disagree, and how to train without fooling yourself.