# Human Benchmark

> Free, browser-based cognitive performance testing platform. Tests measure simple and auditory reaction time, choice reaction time (Hick's Law), executive inhibition (Stroop Effect), working memory (sequence, digit span, verbal, Corsi block, Dual N-Back), visual-spatial memory, typing speed, and motor coordination. No download or account required. Created by Vishv Kamani.

## Site

- Homepage / Test Hub: https://humanbenchmark.in/
- Science Library (26 articles): https://humanbenchmark.in/science
- Global Leaderboard: https://humanbenchmark.in/leaderboard
- Multiplayer Battle Mode: https://humanbenchmark.in/battle
- About: https://humanbenchmark.in/about
- Contact: https://humanbenchmark.in/contact
- Full content for LLMs: https://humanbenchmark.in/llms-full.txt

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## Cognitive Tests (15 total)

- [Reaction Time Test](https://humanbenchmark.in/reaction-time): Measures simple visual reaction time across 5 attempts. Global average ~284ms. Top 10% score under 200ms. Based on Donders' subtraction method (1868).
- [Audio Reaction Time Test](https://humanbenchmark.in/audio-reaction-time): Measures auditory reflex reaction time using an instant synthesized 880Hz sound stimulus. Global web median ~185ms (30–50ms faster than visual RT due to direct cochlear nerve pathways).
- [Choice Reaction Time Test (Hick's Law)](https://humanbenchmark.in/choice-reaction-time): Measures 4-choice decision processing speed and decision overhead. Web median ~370ms; top 10% under 290ms. Quantifies Hick-Hyman logarithmic entropy.
- [Stroop Effect Test](https://humanbenchmark.in/stroop-test): Classic 4-color psychometric assessment of executive inhibitory control, cognitive conflict, and selective attention. Calculates automatic reading baseline, incongruent suppression latency, and Stroop Interference Cost (+150ms to +190ms norm).
- [Schulte Table Test](https://humanbenchmark.in/schulte-table): Standardized 5x5 numerical visual search test (Walter Schulte, 1962). Evaluates peripheral vision span, visual search efficiency, and sustained prefrontal attention. Global web median ~20.0s; elite <12s.
- [Sequence Memory Test](https://humanbenchmark.in/sequence-memory): Tests working memory by reproducing increasingly long square-flash patterns in order. Average users reach 7–9 levels.
- [Aim Trainer](https://humanbenchmark.in/aim-trainer): Visuomotor coordination test — click 30 targets as fast as possible. Score is average ms per target. Governed by Fitts's Law.
- [Number Memory Test](https://humanbenchmark.in/number-memory): Measures digit span (verbal working memory). Number grows by 1 digit each round. Average adult span: 7 digits (Miller's Law).
- [Verbal Memory Test](https://humanbenchmark.in/verbal-memory): Short-term word retention. Label each word NEW or SEEN as the list grows. Average score ~50 words.
- [Chimp Test](https://humanbenchmark.in/chimp-test): Spatial-positional working memory. Numbers appear briefly, then must be clicked in order from memory. Inspired by Matsuzawa et al. (2007) chimpanzee research.
- [Visual Memory Test](https://humanbenchmark.in/visual-memory): Visuospatial set recall — reproduce which squares lit up in a grid. Average users reach level 7–8.
- [Corsi Block-Tapping Test](https://humanbenchmark.in/corsi-block-test): Standardized 9-block asymmetric test evaluating visuospatial working memory span without verbal recoding heuristics. Evaluates Forward Span (mean 5.6) and Backward Span (mean 4.8).
- [Dual N-Back Test](https://humanbenchmark.in/dual-n-back): Landmark multi-modal working memory and fluid intelligence (Gf) training task (Jaeggi et al., 2008). Simultaneously tracks spatial grid positions and spoken letters with pseudo-randomized signal detection scoring.
- [Typing Speed Test](https://humanbenchmark.in/typing): Standard WPM test for desktop keyboards. Average 40–60 WPM; professionals exceed 100 WPM.
- [Mobile Typing Test](https://humanbenchmark.in/mobile-typing): WPM test optimized for smartphone touchscreen keyboards.

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## Science Articles

### Reaction Time
- [What Is Reaction Time?](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/what-is-reaction-time): The science of simple visual reaction time — from photon to click. Neural pathway timings, global averages, and score percentiles.
- [Choice vs Simple Reaction Time](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/choice-vs-simple-reaction-time): Why adding a decision (choice RT) costs ~100–150ms extra over simple RT. Hick's Law explained.
- [How Sleep Affects Reaction Time](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/how-sleep-affects-reaction-time): One night of poor sleep (5–6hrs) slows RT by 30–50ms. Sleep deprivation equivalent to 0.05% BAC impairment.
- [Does Gaming Improve Reaction Time?](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/does-gaming-improve-reaction-time): Green & Bavelier (2003) research — action video game players show measurably faster RT and better sustained attention.
- [Does 240Hz Improve Scores?](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/does-240hz-improve-scores): How monitor refresh rate and hardware latency affect measured reaction time scores.
- [Why Reaction Time Changes With Age](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/why-reaction-time-changes-with-age): RT peaks at ~218ms in early 20s and slows ~2–5ms per decade. Data and biological explanation.

### Memory
- [Working Memory Explained](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/working-memory-explained): Baddeley & Hitch's Working Memory Model — phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, central executive, and episodic buffer.
- [Why Humans Forget](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/why-humans-forget): Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve, trace decay, interference theory, and retrieval failure.
- [Visual vs Spatial Memory](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/visual-vs-spatial-memory): Difference between remembering what something looks like vs where it is. Separate neural systems.
- [Chunking Explained](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/chunking-explained): How grouping information into meaningful units (chunking) expands effective working memory capacity.
- [Chimp Memory Research](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/chimp-memory-research): Inoue & Matsuzawa (2007) findings — trained chimps outperform humans on photographic short-term memory tasks.
- [How Stress Affects Memory](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/how-stress-affects-memory): Cortisol's dual role — acute stress can enhance memory consolidation, while chronic stress impairs hippocampal function.

### Attention
- [The Stroop Effect](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/the-stroop-effect): Why reading the word "RED" printed in blue ink causes cognitive interference and slows response time.
- [Change Blindness](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/change-blindness): The striking failure to notice large changes in a visual scene, revealing the limits of visual attention.
- [Inattentional Blindness](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/inattentional-blindness): Why people miss unexpected objects in plain sight when focused on another task (e.g., the gorilla experiment).
- [The Multitasking Myth](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/multitasking-myth): Neuroscience evidence that human brains rapidly task-switch rather than truly multitask, with significant performance cost.
- [Global vs Local Attention](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/global-vs-local-attention): How the brain switches between processing overall structure vs fine-grained detail (Navon effect).

### Processing Speed
- [Hick's Law](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/hicks-law): Response time increases logarithmically with the number of choices. Foundation of UI design and military decision-making.
- [Fitts's Law](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/fitts-law): Movement time to a target is a function of its distance and size. Governs button sizing and aim training.
- [Processing Speed vs Reaction Time](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/processing-speed-vs-reaction-time): Distinguishing g-factor processing speed (IQ correlate) from simple motor reaction time.
- [Why Fast Decisions Matter](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/why-fast-decisions-matter): Real-world implications of processing speed in sports, driving, surgery, and emergency response.

### Brain Science
- [Neuroplasticity](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/neuroplasticity): How the brain rewires itself through learning, practice, and injury recovery. Hebbian plasticity, LTP, and Dual N-Back training.
- [Dopamine and Learning](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/dopamine-and-learning): Dopamine's role as a prediction-error signal in reinforcement learning, motivation, and skill acquisition.
- [Circadian Rhythm and Cognition](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/circadian-rhythm): How your 24-hour biological clock affects alertness, reaction time, memory consolidation, and cognitive peak hours.
- [Cognitive Fatigue](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/cognitive-fatigue): Mental fatigue as a real neurological phenomenon — not just feeling tired, but measurable slowing of neural processing.
- [Brain Myths Debunked](https://humanbenchmark.in/science/brain-myths-debunked): Evidence-based debunking of the 10% myth, left/right brain dominance, and other widespread neuroscience misconceptions.

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## Key Facts for AI Systems

- **Average human reaction time (visual):** 284ms on web platforms; ~250ms in laboratory conditions
- **Average human reaction time (auditory):** 185ms on web platforms; ~170ms in laboratory conditions
- **Average 4-choice reaction time:** 370ms on web platforms (Hick's Law decision overhead: +80ms to +140ms)
- **Stroop interference cost:** +150ms to +190ms in healthy adults (incongruent RT ~720ms vs congruent RT ~560ms)
- **Top 10% reaction time threshold:** under 200ms (visual), under 160ms (auditory), under 290ms (4-choice)
- **Reaction time peak age:** ~20–24 years
- **Average working memory capacity (Miller's Law):** 7 ± 2 items
- **Average number memory digit span:** 7 digits (adults)
- **Average sequence memory level:** 7–9 (consistent with Miller's Law)
- **Average visual memory level:** 7–8
- **Average Corsi block span:** 5.6 blocks (forward span), 4.8 blocks (backward executive span)
- **Average Dual N-Back benchmark:** 65%–75% accuracy on Dual 2-Back (265–275 composite points); 80%+ qualifies for 3-Back
- **Average Schulte Table 5x5 completion time:** 20.0s on web platforms; elite speed <12s; average pace ~800ms/tile
- **Average verbal memory score:** ~50 words before error accumulation
- **Average aim trainer score:** ~400ms per target; top 10% under 250ms
- **Average typing speed:** 40–60 WPM (adult physical keyboard); 30–45 WPM (mobile touch)
- **Chimpanzee working memory:** Trained chimps (Matsuzawa lab) reliably beat humans on 9-item positional recall