Challenging common criticisms of video games, recent research has found that gaming may actually improve brain function by enhancing certain cognitive skills.
The study, conducted by the University of Limerick’s Lelo Esports Science Lab, finds that regular gamers may have a cognitive advantage over non-gamers, particularly in areas such as attention and memory.
Research on video games and brain health
The study closely analyzed the cognitive abilities of 88 young people, evenly split between regular gamers who play action-based video games for more than seven hours each week and non-gamers.
The researchers set out to investigate how gaming habits affect cognitive performance through a series of tasks designed to measure a range of cognitive functions, including reaction time, executive function, working memory and visuospatial memory.
Tasks included simple reaction time tests, a complex activity requiring participants to switch between number and letter responses, and a maze task aimed at assessing visuospatial memory.
Leveling up: Gamers excel in cognitive tests
The results were shocking: gamers outperformed non-gamers, completing the number-letter switching task and the maze activity 12.7% and 17.4% faster, respectively.
Dr Adam Toth, from the University of Limerick and Science Foundation Ireland’s Software Research Centre (Lelo), co-author on the study, highlighted the importance of these findings:
“Although regular video game playing is often criticised and seen as unhealthy, our research suggests that gamers may enjoy some cognitive advantages over the general population, particularly with regard to attention and memory,” Toth said.
Echoing Dr Toth’s sentiments, Dr Mark Campbell, another contributor to the study, highlighted the broader implications of their findings.
“Like previous work from our lab, this research could have implications for fields where cognitive skills are paramount, such as surgery or air traffic control, where encouraging video game playing may help develop the superior cognitive skills required in these fields,” Campbell explained.
Cognitive fatigue in gamers and non-gamers
The study further explored the area of cognitive endurance and looked into whether gamers were less susceptible to cognitive fatigue (the decline in performance over time due to sustained mental effort) than non-gamers.
The researchers aimed to induce cognitive fatigue and observe the effects by assigning some participants additional tasks that required concentration before reassessing them with the first cognitive test.
Interestingly, both gamers and non-gamers experienced similar declines in performance, indicating no significant differences in their levels of cognitive fatigue.
The future of video games training the brain
In summary, this somewhat surprising study challenges common stereotypes about video games while opening new doors to potential applications in disciplines that require advanced cognitive functions.
By demonstrating that regular engagement with video games can speed up decision-making and problem-solving skills, it suggests that the role of gaming in cognitive development and professional training programs needs to be reevaluated.
As the debate over video games and their effects continues, studies such as this one provide valuable insight into the positive aspects of gaming and their potential contribution to improving cognitive abilities.
The full study was published in the British Journal of Psychology.
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