The Computation Span task combines calculation and memory
The task asks you to solve simple calculation problems, remember the answers in order, and enter them together at the end.
The calculations use simple addition and subtraction. This is not primarily a test of arithmetic skill. The central demand is calculating while keeping the answers and their order in mind. WAIS Arithmetic places a related demand on holding spoken conditions and intermediate results during mental calculation.
As the sequence grows longer, more answers must be remembered. Each calculation may be correct, yet the order can become unclear by the time all the answers are entered. This happens because the task requires information to be held while processing continues, rather than simply measuring how much can be remembered.
What the Computation Span task measures
Computation Span measures the numerical dual-task side of Gwm, or working memory. The other Gwm task, Visual Reversal, measures visuospatial working memory by retaining locations and reversing their order.
Working memory (Gwm) explains the broader ability.
What a higher Computation Span score can show
A higher Computation Span score indicates that shifting attention to each new calculation is less likely to disrupt earlier answers or their order.
Why a Computation Span score may be lower
Several demands can make the Computation Span task more difficult.
- Dividing attention between processing and storage is difficult — attention must move to the calculation while its answer is also retained
- Keeping the answers in order is difficult — both the answers and their positions in the response sequence must remain available
- Longer sequences increase the demand — as more answers are added, earlier ones are more likely to become unclear
BrainTypeIQ uses nine online tasks, including Computation Span, to show overall IQ and a five-domain cognitive profile. How to read the report explains how the task and domain scores fit together.