Memory Test
Chimp Test
Numbers flash briefly on screen. Remember their positions, then click them in order. Based on Kyoto University research where chimpanzees outperformed humans.
Overview & Purpose
The Chimp Test (also widely known as the Chimpanzee Memory Test or Ayumu Test) is based on landmark Kyoto University cognitive research by Tetsuro Matsuzawa and Sana Inoue (2007, Current Biology). It demonstrated that young chimpanzees exhibit extraordinary photographic visuospatial memory, outperforming adult humans on rapid numerical recall. Numbers flash briefly on a grid, then disappear — you must click their locations in ascending order from memory.
Chimp Test
Click the squares in order according to their numbers. The test will get harder as you go.
What the Chimp Test measures
The Chimp Test directly measures visuospatial working memory - Your brain's ability to hold and recall the precise spatial positions of objects you have seen briefly. Unlike digit span (which uses verbal rehearsal), this task relies on the visuospatial sketchpad component of working memory - The same system probed by visual memory and the ordered-recall sequence memory test.
Baddeley's Working Memory Model
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| Central executive | Attention control - Coordinates the other components |
| Visuospatial sketchpad | Primary component tested here. Holds visual and spatial information |
| Phonological loop | Verbal rehearsal - Used in digit span tests, NOT this one |
| Episodic buffer | Integrates information across memory systems |
Chimp Test Score Distribution
The distribution of maximum numbers recalled before first failure. Most users fail at 4–6. Reaching 8 puts you in the top 5%. Chimpanzees trained by Matsuzawa reliably reach 9+.
| Max numbers | Percentile | Classification | % of users |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–3 | Bottom 5% | Very low | 5% |
| 4 | 25th | Below average | 20% |
| 5 - Human avg | 50th | Average | 28% |
| 6 | 72nd | Above average | 22% |
| 7 | 87th | Strong | 13% |
| 8 | 95th | Elite | 7% |
| 9+ - Chimp avg | Top 2% | Chimpanzee territory | <2% |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can humans actually beat chimps at memory?
Yes. While the original 2007 study made headlines claiming chimps were superior, later research showed this was largely due to training. The chimps had practiced the task for years, while the human subjects had not. When humans are given equal practice time, they can match or even exceed the chimps' performance on this specific test.
How does the chimp test work?
You are shown a grid with numbers on it. As soon as you click the number "1", the rest of the numbers are hidden by white blocks. You must then click the remaining blocks in numerical order (2, 3, 4, etc.) purely from spatial memory.
Is the chimp test a real scientific study?
Yes, it is based on a famous 2007 study conducted by Tetsuro Matsuzawa at the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University. The study involved a young chimpanzee named Ayumu, who could consistently remember the location of 9 numbers flashed on a screen for just 210 milliseconds.
What level on the chimp test is impressive?
The average human completes level 5. Reaching level 8 puts you in the top 5% of users. Successfully completing level 9 or higher is highly impressive and puts you in the "Chimpanzee territory" (top 2%).
Why do young chimps beat adult humans?
Researchers proposed the "cognitive tradeoff hypothesis": humans evolved to trade raw, photographic-like short-term memory capacity for complex language and hierarchical thinking. Chimps lack human language, so they may retain this primitive, rapid spatial mapping ability which helps them navigate forests and spot predators instantly.