Chimp Test
Chimpanzees consistently outperform humans at this task. Numbers appear on a grid, click them in order after they hide.
Based on research by Tetsuro Matsuzawa at Kyoto University. Young chimpanzees can remember the positions of 9 numbers in 210ms — faster than almost any human.
This test measures visuospatial short-term memory and rapid encoding ability.
| 👀 | Visual Scan | Efficient scanning patterns improve encoding speed. |
| 🎮 | Gaming | Action games train rapid visuospatial processing. |
| 😴 | Alertness | Fatigue slows visual encoding significantly. |
| 🧠 | Age | This ability peaks in childhood and declines with age. |
Chimp Memory Test
The Chimp Test is a spatial working memory task inspired by a landmark cognitive study conducted at Kyoto University. In the study, young chimpanzees consistently outperformed adult humans in remembering the positions of numbers flashed on a screen for a fraction of a second. This test measures your visual working memory capacity and rapid spatial encoding skills.
How to Take the Chimp Test
- Click the Start Test button to begin the first level.
- Look at the numbers displayed on the grid (starting with 1, 2, 3, 4).
- Click on the number 1. Once clicked, all other numbers will be hidden behind blank white tiles.
- Recall the positions of the hidden numbers and click them in sequential order (2, then 3, then 4, etc.).
- If you make a mistake, you lose 1 of your 3 lives. The grid size and count of numbers increase as you progress.
What is a Good Chimp Test Score?
Most healthy human adults can successfully recall sequences up to 7 to 9 numbers. Reaching a score of 10 or above is considered exceptional for humans, as it exceeds the typical magic number limit of short-term memory (7 ± 2). In contrast, a young chimpanzee named Ayumu famously recalled sequences of 9 numbers after seeing them flashed for only 210 milliseconds, making no mistakes.
The Science Behind the Test
Dr. Tetsuro Matsuzawa's research suggests that chimpanzees possess an extraordinary photographic-like (eidetic) memory, which is highly developed in young chimps but declines as they grow older. Humans trade some of this raw spatial processing capacity for advanced language processing, symbolic thought, and generalization capabilities. Taking this test regularly helps train your spatial chunking and visual focus.
Chimp Test FAQ
Why do chimps perform better than humans?
Researchers theorize that young chimpanzees rely on an active photographic memory system to quickly navigate forest canopies and identify threats. Humans have evolved complex language centers that take up neural resources, shifting our focus from absolute spatial detail to semantic structures.
Can I improve my score?
Yes. By practicing visualization techniques and group chunking (grouping numbers in adjacent grid patterns), you can train your brain to hold larger spatial structures in memory, increasing your average score over time.