Transient and Long-Term Improvements in Cognitive Processes following Video Games: An Italian Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to compare the short- and long-term effects of video-gaming by using the same measurements. More precisely, habitual and occasional video-gamers were compared so as to analyze the long-term effects. An ABABABA design was used to analyze the short-term effects. The first A refers to baseline measurements: Visual RT, Auditory RT, Aim trainer RT, Go/No-Go RT and N-Back RT. The first B refers to 30 min of gaming, the second A refers to the measurements used in the baseline, the second B refers to 60 min of a video game, the third A refers to the same measurements used in the baseline, the third B refers to a 30-min rest, and finally, the fourth A refers to the measurements used in the baseline. Seventy participants, twenty-nine habitual video-gamers and forty-one occasional video-gamers, participated in the study. The results showed a temporary improvement of cognitive functions (Visual RT, Auditory RT, Aim trainer RT, Go/No-Go RT and N-Back RT) in the short term and a strong enhancement of cognitive functions in the long term. The results are discussed in light of Flow Theory and the automatization process. Contribution of the study: The contribution of this research is to highlight that despite there being a transient enhancement of executive and cognitive functions through the use of mobile video games in the short-term period, with a decrease of performance after a 30-min rest, there is a strong increase of cognitive performance in the long-term period. Flow Theory and the automatization process together can explain this apparent inconsistency between the positive increase of long-term performance and the transient increase of short-term performance. One limitation of the present research is that it is not possible to distinguish whether the long-term enhancements can be attributed either to continued practice in the use of video games compared to non-gamers, or to the possibility that gamers are already predisposed to video game playing. Future research should address this issue.

The Effects of Adolescents’ Participation in Video Games on Cognitive Function and Motor Control Skills

“…This means that frequency does not play a significant role in the development of cognitive functions and learning of manipulative abilities through games. In addition, as explained in previous studies [29,30] that suggest short-term application effects, the results of this study also support the findings that cognitive function and motor control ability can be activated through short-term stimulation (game participation). These results suggest that, in fact, the frequency of game participation does not significantly affect the improvement of adolescents' cognitive function and motor control skills.…”

Problematic Smartphone Use Leads to Behavioral and Cognitive Self-Control Deficits

“…In recent years, tests have been conducted in an attempt to investigate various phenomena such as TV addiction [ 2 ], excessive use of computer games [ 3 ], gambling disorders over the web [ 4 ] and, generally, internet addiction [ 5 ]. The excessive use of smartphones, also known as ‘nomophobia’, has proven to be a form of technological addiction that is rapidly becoming a major social problem around the world [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Today, addiction is defined as a pleasure-inducing behavior that through repeated exposure gradually leads to loss of control and further negative consequences [ 11 ].…”