Scientists find out what mental skills video games develop
25 January 2024 18:37
A study by researchers from the University of Limerick in Ireland has shown that playing dynamic action games can improve cognitive abilities. The results of the study were published in the well-known scientific journal British Journal of Psychology (BJP).
The study involved 88 participants, half of whom regularly play action video games, while the other half are not video game fans. All participants underwent three types of tests: attention span, switching between different tasks, and spatial working memory.
To analyse the impact of mental fatigue on cognitive functions, one group of participants was asked to perform complex intellectual tasks for 45 minutes, while the other group was asked to watch a documentary.
Theresults showed that action game players performed better in tests of complex attention and spatial memory, regardless of their state of mental fatigue. Complex attention means the ability to simultaneously perceive and respond to different stimuli that require different actions. Spatial memory helps to memorise and recall the location of objects in space.
However, gamers showed similar or even weaker results on tests of attention span compared to non-gamers, indicating the importance of the ability to concentrate on a single task for a long time.
The researchers concluded that playing dynamic video games can indeed develop complex cognitive skills, but it is important to remember to rest and not spend too much time in front of the screen to avoid overwork.
