Trail Making Test: Training for cognitive flexibility

The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a neuropsychological test since the 1940s. It measures visual attention, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility. You connect dots in a specific order - either numerically (1-2-3) or alternating between numbers and letters (1-A-2-B-3-C).

TMT-A (Numbers)

1→2→3→...

TMT-B (Switching)

1→A→2→B

TMT-A vs. TMT-B

TMT-A: Connect only numbers in ascending order - mainly measures processing speed. TMT-B: Alternates between numbers and letters - also measures cognitive flexibility. TMT-B is significantly more difficult because you must switch between two rule systems.

What does the TMT train?

Visual search (quick scanning and finding), sequential thinking (following order), motor speed (hand-eye coordination), task-switching (switching rules in TMT-B), working memory (remember where you are and what comes next).

👁️Visual Search - Quick scanning and finding

🔢Sequential Thinking - Follow sequences

🎯Motor speed - Hand-eye coordination

🔄Task Switching - Switch between rules

Everyday relevance

The skills of the TMT are used daily: cooking (following recipes, monitoring multiple pots), driving (searching for traffic signs, planning routes), working (completing task lists, setting priorities), organizing (sorting documents, coordinating appointments).

🍳

Cooking

Follow a recipe, monitor multiple pots

🚗

Driving

Look for traffic signs, plan routes

💼

Working

Work through task lists, set priorities

📁

Organizing

Sort documents, coordinate appointments

Trail Making in SynapseGym

SynapseGym offers a touch-optimized Trail Making Test with a classic mode (numbers only), extended mode (numbers and letters), and challenge mode with time limit. Features: precise timing, error tracking, progress history. Training recommendation: 3-4 times per week, 5-10 minutes.