9 replies to this topic

[Batou]

Does anyone have difficulty with digit span tests? I've been doing this test on www.cambridgebrainsciences.com and the highest I’ve managed to score is 5, sometimes I’m only getting 4. I know that’s really low and it’s frustrating me.

From what I understand digit span is a fairly good measure of working memory capacity. Working memory strongly correlates with intelligence, such as understanding complex relations and concepts etc. I’m in my early twenties, so my working memory should be at its peak.

I know certain conditions like ADD/ADHD and ASD are associated with impaired working memory. So anther question I have, does anyone on here with these conditions have problems with digit span?

From what I understand the only drugs effective at boosting working memory are stimulants like methylphenidate, Dexedrine etc. Do any of you notice a substantial increase in scores with these types of tests when taking these drugs?

[maxwatt]

I know a young man who was diagnosed with ADHD, yet when tested his digit span was 17 to 23. Great working memory, executive function was his weakness.

The modal digit span in North America seems to be seven, perhaps from practice with phone numbers: try clumping into two groups, three and four digits long. Then add an area code and you'll be up to nine. If you can do four, you may be able to master three twice, plus four once.

The record (AFIK) for digit span is over seventy. The subject was a runner, and clumped the numbers as split times such as he used in training.

[Batou]

Hi Maxwatt, I’ve heard that problems with executive functioning can be indicative of problems with working memory, obviously though this isn’t always the case. It’s confusing to try and understand different cognitive concepts and their relationships, even the experts have conflicting definitions.

Obviously the young man you are referring to has used mnemonic devices to achieve this score. I’m more interested though in scores done were chunking wasn’t employed, as this should, I think give a better indicator of raw processing power. However I’m picking that he’d still score highly without them given that even if he chunked numbers together, say into threes, it’s still a lot of chunks to remember. Perhaps the subtype of ADHD he was diagnosed with could also be a factor in what cognitive functions were impaired.

[abelard lindsay]

Do you really get different scores on these tests when using different strategies? I find the cambridgebrainsciences tests to be good indicators of the value of various nootropics because they are really hard to get better at just by practice or by using different strategies..

[Batou]

For digit span it’s definitely possible to use strategies, like chunking. You’d have to be amazingly gifted otherwise to score as high as some people do. It talks about it on the site. I don’t know about other tests, that’s something I haven’t looked into. So long as you don't use strategies the tests should be a reliable measure.

[khemix]

Glutamic acid 500mg helped me from up my digit span by about +1

And the digit span has nothing to do with phone numbers, for some reason our brains are good are remembering up to seven objects.

If you could find other supplements this would be a gold mine as working memory is highly correlated with IQ. Good thread, thank you for the Cambridge site too, it's almost like a free version of Lumosity.

[manic_racetam]

What's really interesting about digit span is that it turns out to not have much to do with the number of digits but the number of syllables in each digit. People who speak cantonese can remember around 10 digits in a row. That's not because they have more advanced working memory than English speakers, it's just because the cantonese syllables are much shorter in their numbers (one syllable each for the most part) so they can fit more numbers in the span of a few seconds.

[khemix]

What's really interesting about digit span is that it turns out to not have much to do with the number of digits but the number of syllables in each digit. People who speak cantonese can remember around 10 digits in a row. That's not because they have more advanced working memory than English speakers, it's just because the cantonese syllables are much shorter in their numbers (one syllable each for the most part) so they can fit more numbers in the span of a few seconds.

That's weak.- 0.1 difference in mean syllable does not +2 your digit span. That would be the +7 IQ points East Asians posses speaking.

Edited by khemix, 16 May 2012 - 04:23 PM.

[hippocampus]

n-back is the best thing to train working memory and has lasting effects (even after you stop training after few months), so it's better than drugs!

http://brainworkshop.sourceforge.net/

and: http://www.gwern.net/DNB%20FAQ

[khemix]

I was able to increase my digit span by +1 using 10mg of Adderall + 300mg of Artichoke + 50mg Tongkat Ali (Now Brand).

The result is not always consistent but these three things do improve my score some of the time.


Having said that, piracetam doses at either 800mg or 1.6g always lowers my digit span by -1. It does improve verbal fluency, meaning words flow easier. I tested this on Lumosity using their flexibility games.

Edited by khemix, 09 June 2012 - 04:32 PM.