Improved Probabilistic Inference as a General Learning Mechanism with Action Video Games

Abstract

SUMMARY Action video game play benefits performance in an array of sensory, perceptual and attentional tasks that go well beyond the specifics of game play [1-9]. That a training regimen may induce improvements in so many different skills is notable as the majority of studies on training-induced learning report improvements on the trained task but limited transfer to other, even closely related tasks [10, but see also 11-13]. Here we ask whether improved probabilistic inference may explain such broad transfer. Using a visual perceptual decision making task [14, 15], the present study shows for the first time that action video-game experience does indeed improve probabilistic inference. A neural model of this task [16] establishes how changing a single parameter, namely, the strength of the connections between the neural layer providing the momentary evidence and the layer integrating the evidence over time captures improvements in action-gamers behavior. These results were established in a visual, but also in a novel auditory task, indicating generalization across modalities. Thus, improved probabilistic inference provides a general mechanism for why action video game playing enhances performance in a wide variety of tasks. In addition, this mechanism may serve as a signature of training regimens that are likely to produce transfer of learning.

“Shall We Play a Game?”: Improving Reading Through Action Video Games in Developmental Dyslexia

“…In parallel, the performance in the same tasks showed improvements due to the use of AVG (see [168]; but see also [169] for a different result). Crucially, an AVG training has been recently found to improve the ability in real and illusory motion discrimination in children with DD [57•].…”

Action video game training for cognitive enhancement

“…This includes improvements in visual sensitivity [24,29], basic perimetry [20], perceptual decision making [30], speed of processing [31,32], perceptual simultaneity and temporal order judgments [21], in the capacity to select task relevant information across space [23,33 ,34-36,37 ,38] and time [23,33 ,39,40], to overcome attentional capture [41,42] and utilize cognitive control [25], in the ability to track multiple moving objects [23,43,44], to mentally rotate complex shapes [36], to remember visually presented information [45,46], and to either rapidly switch between tasks [47 , [48][49][50][51][52] or to perform multiple tasks concurrently [51,53] (although see [54][55][56][57] for failures to find such effects). The available research also strongly contradicts the popular conception of the 'triggerhappy' video game player who is willing to trade reductions in accuracy for increased speed.…”

“…Here, in the case of the UFOV task, this is true not only a few days after the last video game training session (2+ days), as the effects persist for at least 5 months. *Data replotted from [28,30].…”

Enhanced visual short-term memory in action video game players

“…Specifically, action video game play has been shown to result in enhanced allocation of visual attention across space (Green & Bavelier, 2003, 2006a, greater temporal resolution of visual attention (Green & Bavelier, 2003), reduced attentional capture (Chisholm, Hickey, Theeuwes, & Kingstone, 2010;Chisholm & Kingstone, 2012), greater dual-task and task-switching performance (Colzato, van Leeuwen, van den Wildenberg, & Hommel, 2010;Strobach, Frensch, & Schubert, 2012; but see also Donohue, James, Eslick, & Mitroff, 2012), overall greater attentional capacity (Green & Bavelier, 2003), superior selective attention (Bavelier, Achtman, Mani, & Focker, 2012), and enhanced visual processing speed (Dye, Green, & Bavelier, 2009b). Notably, training studies have also provided evidence consistent with a causal link between action video game play and these benefits to visual attention (Dye et al, 2009b;Feng, Spence, & Pratt, 2007;Green & Bavelier, 2003, 2006a, 2007Green, Pouget, & Bavelier, 2010; but see also Boot et al, 2008). In addition, AVGPs also demonstrate a compelling processing speed advantage: Dye et al (2009b) reported significantly reduced response times among AVGPs in the context of a variety of perceptual and attentional tasks.…”