Resource
Modeling the Relationships Among Online Solitaire Gameplay and Measures of Cognition
September 2025
Description
This study by Lyons Assessment Consulting and UCLA CRESST, supported by Unwind Media, examines whether online Solitaire gameplay on Solitaired.com can serve as a scalable, engaging tool for cognitive assessment. Building on prior research, the team first conducted a pilot study confirming that players’ self-reported cognitive status and age correlated with gameplay measures such as completion time, average move time, and score. The main study then analyzed data from more than 3,500 players using regression models to predict performance on three validated TestMyBrain (TMB) cognitive tests—Choice Reaction Time, Digit Symbol Matching, and Flicker Change Detection—representing working memory, processing speed, and visual short-term memory. Mean time per move and age consistently emerged as the strongest predictors of mental acuity, with hint use adding some explanatory power in one model. Overall, the findings support online Solitaire as a promising platform for large-scale, inclusive cognitive assessment while emphasizing the need for continued validation, attention to future game design changes, and careful communication of player scores.
