What is Chimp Test?

The Chimp Test is a working memory challenge inspired by the famous experiment conducted by Dr. Tetsuro Matsuzawa at Kyoto University, where young chimpanzees outperformed adult humans in a numerical memory task. Numbers are briefly displayed on the screen, then hidden, and you must click their positions in ascending order. This game tests your ability to rapidly encode and recall spatial-numerical information — a task that highlights the remarkable capacity of visual short-term memory.

Cognitive Benefits of Chimp Test

The Chimp Test targets the visuospatial sketchpad component of working memory — the system responsible for maintaining and manipulating visual and spatial information. Research from Kyoto University's Primate Research Institute showed that chimpanzees could recall the positions of 9 numbers displayed for just 210 milliseconds, outperforming most adult humans. This finding suggests that human cognitive evolution may have traded some short-term memory capacity for language abilities. Training on this task can improve your ability to quickly scan and memorize spatial layouts, which benefits activities like speed reading, tactical gaming, and navigating complex visual environments.

How to Improve Your Chimp Test Score

Rather than trying to memorize each number's position individually, try to photograph the entire layout mentally in one glance. Practice scanning the numbers in order (1, 2, 3...) as quickly as possible during the brief display period. Start with fewer numbers and gradually increase the count as your performance improves. Some players find it helpful to create a mental path connecting the numbers in sequence, similar to a connect-the-dots approach. Train your peripheral vision by consciously trying to see the whole screen without moving your eyes. This skill improves with practice — initial scores often double within a few weeks of regular training.