Areas of your brain

Knowledge

Knowledge thinking is connecting facts you carry and sensing how big or small things really are.

Areas involved in knowledge: Temporal lobe semantic networks

What these areas do

The facts you carry about the world, sometimes called semantic memory, are commonly linked to networks spread across the temporal lobes, on each side of the brain behind the ears. These areas store what a thing is and connect it to everything related: a name to a face, an animal to its size, a country to its place on the map. Leaning on them is what lets you judge how one thing compares to another, even when you are not quite certain.

What your mind is doing in Spectrum

Guessing whether the next thing is counted higher or lower asks you to reach for what you know and lean on a sense of scale when you are unsure. It rewards curiosity rather than facts memorised for a test, and we never score your knowledge. It is a daily nudge to stay curious and keep these connections in friendly, regular use.

Play Spectrum now

Keep this kind of thinking active

This daily game gives knowledge a gentle, enjoyable workout. Today’s puzzle is always free.

Looking after your brain

Puzzles are one enjoyable way to stay curious and mentally active. The habits with the best evidence behind them are simple ones: good sleep, regular exercise, learning new things, staying socially connected, and looking after your heart. These games are for fun and mental exercise. They are not a treatment, a test, or a measure of your health.