Enhancing Attentional Control: Lessons from Action Video Games

Bavelier, Daphné; Green, C. Shawn

doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2019.09.031

Cited by 155 publications

(196 citation statements)

References 168 publications

(161 reference statements)

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“…logic/puzzle games) was associated with gray matter (GM) volume in bilateral entorhinal cortex [48] that is involved in navigation [49]. AVGs and SVGs were also found to be associated with the enhanced visuo-spatial function [50]. Ten hours of AVG training resulted in better navigation skills through the adoption of response strategy, which indirectly measure/indicate the volume of hippocampus and striatum [51].…”

Section: Sgsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Commercial video games and cognitive functions: video game genres and modulating factors of cognitive enhancement

et al. 2020

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Background: Unlike the emphasis on negative results of video games such as the impulsive engagement in video games, cognitive training studies in individuals with cognitive deficits showed that characteristics of video game elements were helpful to train cognitive functions. Thus, this study aimed to have a more balanced view toward the video game playing by reviewing genres of commercial video games and the association of video games with cognitive functions and modulating factors. Literatures were searched with search terms (e.g. genres of video games, cognitive training) on database and Google scholar. Results: video games, of which purpose is players' entertainment, were found to be positively associated with cognitive functions (e.g. attention, problem solving skills) despite some discrepancy between studies. However, the enhancement of cognitive functions through video gaming was limited to the task or performance requiring the same cognitive functions. Moreover, as several factors (e.g. age, gender) were identified to modulate cognitive enhancement, the individual difference in the association between video game playing and cognitive function was found. Conclusion: Commercial video games are suggested to have the potential for cognitive function enhancement. As understanding the association between video gaming and cognitive function in a more balanced view is essential to evaluate the potential outcomes of commercial video games that more people reported to engage, this review contributes to provide more objective evidence for commercial video gaming.

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Section: Sgsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Commercial video games and cognitive functions: video game genres and modulating factors of cognitive enhancement

et al. 2020

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“…This could include not only standard but also novel approaches. For example, recent reviews detail the mounting evidence that video games can improve attention and spatial cognition, [96][97][98] and these have been applied recently to the study of patients with traumatic brain injury. 99 It would be of interest to see how the efficacy and compliance rates of these various approaches compare in the clinical setting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vision Therapy: Ocular Motor Training in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Barton

Ranalli

2020

Annals of Neurology

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Vision therapy in the form of ocular motor training is increasingly used to treat visual complaints, particularly in the setting of persistent symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). In this review, we discuss the rationale behind this intervention and the evidence for its utility. Although the efficacy of exercises for primary convergence insufficiency is plausible and supported by data, there is not yet strong evidence of benefit for the post‐traumatic variant. It is not established that abnormalities in fixation, pursuit, and saccades in mTBI are the cause of post‐concussive symptoms, or that these abnormalities arise from ocular motor damage rather than being secondary effects of cognitive problems with attention or executive control. The few studies to date have significant methodological weaknesses. More substantial evidence is required before vision therapy can be accepted as a useful tool in the rehabilitation of patients with brain trauma. ANN NEUROL 2020;88:453–461

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“…There is also evidence indicating superior cognitive control among action video game players as young as 7 years old (Cain et al, 2014;Dye & Bavelier, 2004;Wu & Spence, 2013). For example, experienced action video-game players seem to be better than non-Technology, Attention and Cognitive Control 23 gamers at ignoring irrelevant distractions (Chisholm & Kingstone, 2012Shawn Green & Bavelier, 2003;Mishra et al, 2011;West et al, 2008), attending information over long periods of time (Boot et al, 2008), localizing targets (Chisholm et al, 2010;Hubert-Wallander et al, 2011;Wu & Spence, 2013), tracking multiple objects simultaneously (Bavelier et al, 2010;Green & Bavelier, 2006), and switching between tasks (Bavelier & Green, 2019;Pohl et al, 2014;Strobach et al, 2012).…”

Section: Cognitive Profiles Of Video-gamersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several brain imaging studies have shown that neuroanatomical variation in regional brain volume correlate with differences in skill acquisition after playing a video game (Basak et al, 2011;Erickson et al, 2010). Any training benefits derived from gaming may, therefore, also depend on players' latent potential for improvement (Bavelier & Green, 2019).…”

Section: The Who and Why: Individual Differences And Other Consideratmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The behavioural and the neural literatures also suggest that prior gaming experience may account for some of the observed variance in skill acquisition, performance improvement, and skill transfer rates (Bavelier & Green, 2019;Spence et al, 2009;Wu et al, 2012). For example, many scholars argue that the widely disputed gender differences in visuo-spatial attention may be due to the fact that action video games predominantly attract male audiences (Dye et al, 2009b;Feng et al, 2007) and that when selection effects are eliminated, playing an action video games can reduce gender disparities in both spatial attention and in mental rotation ability, with women benefiting more than men from the training given their lower baseline levels of engagement in such gaming activities (Feng et al, 2007).…”

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confidence: 99%

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A Review of Evidence on the Role of Digital Technology in Shaping Attention and Cognitive Control in Children

Vedechkina¹,

Borgonovi²

2020

Preprint

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The role of digital technology in shaping attention and cognitive development has been at the centre of public discourse for decades. The rapid evolution of the technological landscape in recent years has made it increasingly difficult to study how digital devices might interact with cognition in a way that directly informs the present generation of media users. The current review presents findings from three main bodies of evidence on the implications of technology use for attention and executive functions: television, video games, and digital multitasking with the aim of identifying key lessons from prior research for the current generation of digital users. In particular, the lack of scientific consensus on whether digital technologies are good or bad for children reflects that effects depend on users’ characteristics, the form digital technologies take, the circumstances in which use occurs and the interaction between the three factors. Some features of digital media may be particularly problematic, but only for certain users and only in certain contexts. Similarly, individual differences mediate how, when and why individuals use technology, as well as how much benefit or harm can be derived from its use. We discuss the importance of leveraging existing knowledge and integrating past research findings into a broader theoretical framework in order to guide emerging technology-based research. We end with a discussion of some of the challenges and unaddressed issues in the literature, and propose directions for future research.

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Enhancing Attentional Control: Lessons from Action Video Games

Cited by 155 publications

References 168 publications

Commercial video games and cognitive functions: video game genres and modulating factors of cognitive enhancement

Commercial video games and cognitive functions: video game genres and modulating factors of cognitive enhancement

Vision Therapy: Ocular Motor Training in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

A Review of Evidence on the Role of Digital Technology in Shaping Attention and Cognitive Control in Children

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