Measures the storage capacity of spatial working memory.
The Block-Tapping Test is regarded as the gold standard for testing spatial memory span. For more than three decades the validity of this test has been repeatedly confirmed in the neuropsychological literature and it has been widely used in clinical contexts. It is often used in developmental psychology because it has proved to be a good predictor of the development of cognitive functions and is able to identify specific differences between the block span forwards and backwards. It is also used in drawing up professional opinions on medical conditions.

Respondents see nine irregularly arranged cubes. They watch a cursor that touches a certain number of cubes in turn. At the end of this sequence a signal sounds; the respondent must now repeat the given sequence either forwards or backwards, depending on the test form. The length of the sequence increases after every third item until the maximum of eight cubes is reached.
To test learning in spatial working memory, in two test forms (S3/S4) the spatial memory span is first identified. On the basis of this a target sequence is defined that is one longer than the memory span previously achieved.

The test forms for adults and those for children differ in their starting sequence. Children begin with a sequence of two cubes and adults with a sequence of three.
S1/S2: For adults/children – spatial memory span forwards
S3/S4: For adults/children – learning process of spatial working memory and spatial memory span forwards
S5/S6: For adults/children – spatial memory span backwards
S7: spatial memory span backwards, geriatric test form

The following main variables are scored, depending on the test form:

• Immediate block span forwards (S1-S4) / immediate block span backwards (S5-S7): The longest sequence in which at least two of the three presented tasks were correctly reproduced – measure of spatial memory span.
• Supra-block span (S3/S4): Number of repetitions needed before a particular target sequence is achieved – measure of short-term spatial learning.