Online cognitive flexibility trainer

Meaning and color: do they match?

Also known as: does the color match, word and ink color, color match game

The left card shows the name of a color, the right card shows a color. Decide whether they match. From level two the right card shows a word too, and its meaning gets in the way of seeing the ink color. You can play 10 minutes a day without signing up.

Go to the game ↓
  • 1 minuteper round
  • 3 levelsfrom a color patch to two colored words
  • No sign-up10 minutes a day
  • Progress30-day chart
What it trains

Why compare meaning and color

You take the meaning from one card and the color from the other, without mixing up which comes from where. The word on the right card gets in the way, because reading it is easier than noticing the color of its letters.

Sign up and you see your score, correct answers, mistakes, level and best streak.

  • You answer to whatever catches your eye firstHere what catches your eye is the wrong thing
  • You get confused doing two things at onceMeaning from one card, color from the other
  • You know the Stroop test and want a new formatHere you compare two cards
  • You want a short warm-upOne minute and the round is over

Ignoring interference

Ignore the meaning of the word on the right.

Switching

Meaning comes from the left card, color from the right one.

Decision speed

In one minute, quick and accurate answers get you further.

Accuracy

A mistake costs a point and drops your level.

Rules

How to play

  1. Start

    Press “Start”. Two cards appear: a color name on the left, a color on the right.

  2. Compare

    Read the left word and check the color of the right card or of the word on it.

  3. Answer

    Press “Yes” if meaning and color match and “No” if they don’t. On a computer: ← no, → yes.

  4. Level

    Six correct answers in a row move you up a level: a word appears on the right, then the left word gets colored too. A mistake drops your level.

  5. Score

    A correct answer earns as many points as your current level, and a mistake costs one. After one minute you’ll see your result.

Play online

Meaning and Color online

Compare the meaning of the left word with the color of the right card. Play 10 minutes a day with no sign-up.

Meaning and Color

On the left is a color name, on the right a color. Do they match? The word on the right card will try to trick you: look at the ink color, not the meaning.

Free play left today without signing up: 10 min

Method

What the exercise is based on

The exercise relies on the same effect as the Stroop test: a word you read gets in the way of naming a color. Here the task takes another form: meaning and color are split across two cards, and the answer is always yes or no.

The classic version is the Stroop Test, where you name the ink color. And in Stroop: Color or Word the rule also changes during the round.

1Color patchOn the right, just a colored rectangle; on the left, a word in plain color
2Colored wordOn the right, the name of another color printed in colored letters
3Two colored wordsThe left word is colored too, and the game uses five colors
Who it’s for

Which ages

Adults

A one-minute attention and switching task. Easy to fit in between tasks.

Kids

You need to read quickly and confidently, so this trainer suits older schoolchildren better. For kids, difficulty doesn’t go above level two.

60+

The round moves at a fast pace. For calmer attention training, the Stroop Test and the Schulte Table are a better fit.

Program finder

Get your program in a minute

Answer 4 questions and we’ll put together a daily program of 5 trainers. We’ll email you the full 2-week plan.

Question 1 of 4

Who will be training?

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What do I compare at level two?

The meaning of the left word and the color of the letters of the right word. What the right word says doesn’t matter.

Does the color of the left word matter?

No. From level three the left word is colored too, but you only take its meaning.

Can I play with a keyboard?

Yes: the ← arrow means “no”, → means “yes”.

Do I need to sign up?

No, you can play 10 minutes a day right away. A free account lets you keep playing, save your results, track your progress and unlock the daily workout.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes, the trainer runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers. Nothing to install.

Save your results and track your progress

Free sign-up: round history, a chart by skill and a daily workout of 5 exercises. No credit card needed.

All trainers

Other trainers

Memory

Attention

Mental flexibility

Math

Logic

Spatial thinking

Sets