Alpha Span
Sort your thoughts faster to think, recall,
and plan in order.
Objective
To strengthen working memory, attention control, and planning ability by training the brain to process and organize incoming information in real time.
Problem Statement
With constant information overload, it’s easy to lose focus and struggle to retain relevant details. Many people find it difficult to organize new information logically or recall it efficiently under time pressure.
Solution Provided
Alpha Span challenges players to process sequences of words and mentally reorganize them alphabetically based on their first letters. This simple yet powerful exercise enhances cognitive filtering — teaching the brain to identify, retain, and structure the most salient information quickly and effectively.
The Science
Grounded in working memory span and executive attention theory, this game trains your brain’s ability to hold and manipulate multiple pieces of information simultaneously. By imposing time and ordering constraints, it strengthens focus, sequencing, and strategic thinking — key components of effective planning and cognitive flexibility.
Time Commitment
15-20 mins.
Facilitation Level
No facilitation is required.
Materials Needed
Mind-n app login credentials.
Detailed Instructions for Using the Tool
- Start the Game:
- Launch Alpha Span
- You’ll see a sequence of words appear on the screen, one at a time.
- Watch and Process:
- Each word appears for 1–3 seconds before the next one shows.
- Focus on the first letter of each word as it appears.
- Recall Phase:
- After the final word, a prompt appears.
- Your task: recall the first letters of the words in alphabetical order.
- Example (might not represent the true combinations of words used in the game):
- Words shown: Table, Moon, Chair
- Correct answer: C, M, T
- Progression:
- The game starts with 3 words and continues to increase the length with each correct round.
- As you advance, words appear faster or with similar starting letters to increase difficulty.
- Scoring:
- Each correct sequence earns points.
- Completing three correct rounds in a row unlocks a Focus Bonus.
- The game ends when you miss two sequences in a row or reach the endless mode cap.
Planning to run this game/activity? Listen to the audio instructions below for a smooth and effective session.
