How do you practice N-Back?

Altamont

Hi,

Reading different people's posts it's not always easy to determine the "right" way of doing this, so how do you do it?

Intuitive, Rote Memorization, Chunking

Some people say only practice intuitive, other people say don't practice intutitive & don't practive mnemonics, so how do I practice if I don't count and I'm not suppose to be entirely intuitive?

In the past I chunk the number of n-back level I'm on and overlap the previous pattern verbally and auditorally in my mind with the next section, 1,2,3 1,2,3 etc.

Now I'm trying not to count at all like Luke without his targeting computer.

Is there a third way? A rbridge? How do you practice N-Back?

"It is a commonly agreed upon point by users and psychologists to not use the the subconscious mind for this task. To bridge the subconscious memorization to the conscious access is the goal."

Arjuna

Don't use mnemonics, that is antithetical to the exercise. I use chunking, I didn't plan on it, but it is the only way I can do it, and only found out about what it is after I'd already been doing it. Feels natural, and I get lots of benefits from the exercise. I still don't get the "intuitive" method, is it just sitting absent minded and hoping the subconscious keeps up in some bottom up process? I think this is an abomination of the word "intuitive" by equating it to "passive". If the "intuitive" approach means you couldn't recite what just happened, I'd be skeptical about how useful it is. That being said, as DnB levels reach higher and higher the only way our brains can accomplish them is in relaxed alpha flow states, which is the place where intuition happens, it is where conscious thought is so relaxed, subtle and agile that it is hard for one to distinguish between automatic and forced processes in the mind.

James

Arjuna, would you mind sending me an email, I will reply with a few questions about DNB if you dont mind. jamesdavidaustin at gmail dot com

Cohibaman929

So once again, it looks like this issue was not clarified by anyone. I have no bias towards one particular method; just someone actually say what the best method is. Fully inuitive, chunking (without using mnemonics), or sub-vocalizing (only each individual square/letter combo - not the entire past sequence)? Also, how does one bridge the gap between subconscious and conscious without sub-vocalizing? What are you supposed to think with your mind's voice if you cannot repeat any of the letters)? I have become far more confused after reading through all the posts. BTW, I like your reference to Luke's proton torpedo launch!

cxhubert

try to not think about any method. Imagine you know how to play the game and just press the buttons intuitively, but focus and concentrate extremely. Over time eventually you will see immense increases.

Arjuna

Sorry I missed this 5 years ago

Pythag0ras

lmao

Pythag0ras

I vocalise and chunk and have difficulty using other methods although being able to subvocalize while maintaining the pattern seems more attractive to me moving forward for encountering real-life scenarios