Focus on the middle arrow

What a round looks like

You see ← ← → ← ←. The correct tap is Right, because only the middle arrow counts. The ones on the sides are there to distract you.

Where the idea comes from

Arrow Focus Challenge is inspired by this research:

• Eriksen, B. A., & Eriksen, C. W. 1974. Effects of noise letters upon the identification of a target letter in a nonsearch task. Perception & Psychophysics.The paper that introduced the flanker paradigm: a target surrounded by neighboring distractors.

We use the general flanker idea in a short game. This is not the official laboratory task.

For what large studies found about brain training, including the limits, see what the science actually says.

How it plays in Brain Puzzle

Short timed rounds of arrow rows. The app does not use this puzzle to diagnose attention or any medical condition.

Difficulty that follows you

Each puzzle type keeps its own level on a scale from 1 to 10, so a strong run in one game does not make another one harder. After every round, the app looks at your recent results for that type.

A steady run of accurate rounds played at a good pace moves the level up one step. A run of rounds with half or fewer answers correct moves it down one step. Quick guesses that turn out wrong never count toward a step up.

The aim is to keep each puzzle challenging but playable. The level describes the game you get, not your intelligence, memory, or health.