How to play Number Connect
- Tap the circle with "1" to start the timer.
- Continue tapping circles in ascending order (2, 3, 4… up to 25).
- If you tap the wrong circle, you receive a red visual signal and an error is counted — continue with the correct number.
- Final score = combination of completion time and number of errors. Target: under 60 seconds for medium difficulty (1-25).
What does this game test?
Number Connect is a digital adaptation of the most widely used processing speed test in clinical neurology: Trail Making Test Part A. The reference standard is Reitan 1958, with age-group normative data published by Tombaugh 2004 in Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology.
The test measures simultaneously:
- Visuomotor processing speed — how quickly the eye scans and the hand responds.
- Selective visual attention — filtering out irrelevant circles.
- Sequencing — maintaining numerical order in working memory.
The ACTIVE study (NIH, followed for 20 years) confirmed that processing speed is the cognitive domain most relevant to functional independence in seniors — and the most trainable. TMT times naturally slow with age (~20% per decade after 50), but sustained training can compensate for part of the natural decline.
Frequently asked questions
▶What is the Trail Making A test?
Trail Making Test (TMT) Part A is a standardised neuropsychological test developed by Reitan in the 1950s. The participant connects 25 numbered circles in ascending order as quickly as possible. It measures visuomotor processing speed, visual scanning, and attention. Our digital version is an adaptation based on digital validation studies (PMC 2017).
▶What is the average time for a healthy adult?
Tombaugh 2004 normative data show: adults aged 18–24 — approximately 22 seconds; 55–59 years — approximately 35 seconds; 65–69 years — approximately 42 seconds; 75–79 years — approximately 55 seconds; 85+ years — approximately 70 seconds. Times above the 90th percentile (twice as slow as the mean) may indicate a cognitive or motor deficit worth exploring clinically.
▶What does it mean if I make many errors?
Error count is a separate indicator. More than 2–3 errors in 25 circles may suggest selective attention or inhibition difficulties. In scoring, each error deducts 2 points. Important: stress, fatigue, and rushing increase error rates — repeat over 2–3 days for a relevant assessment.
▶Why does the game differ from the clinical test?
The clinical test is on paper, with a pencil, with circles in fixed positions. Our version generates circles in random positions (to prevent position learning effects) and uses click/tap. It is an adaptation for self-assessment, not a clinically certified variant. Your results are not directly comparable with published clinical norms.