Age-Related Cognitive Effects of Videogame Playing Across the Adult Life span

Wang, Ping; Zhu, Xing-Ting; Liu, Han-Hui; Zhang, Yiwen; Hu, Yang; Li, Huijie; Zuo, Xi‐Nian

doi:10.1089/g4h.2017.0005

Cited by 14 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…This result replicates findings from the previous literature, proving the beneficial effects of video game playing on the executive function of older adults (Basak et al, 2008 ; Maillot et al, 2012 ). The current results also confirm our recent findings that older VGPs present outstanding performance on executive function tasks compared to older NVGPs (Wang et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Neural Basis of Enhanced Executive Function in Older Video Game Players: An fMRI Study

Wang

Zhu

et al. 2017

Front. Aging Neurosci.

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Video games have been found to have positive influences on executive function in older adults; however, the underlying neural basis of the benefits from video games has been unclear. Adopting a task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study targeted at the flanker task, the present study aims to explore the neural basis of the improved executive function in older adults with video game experiences. Twenty video game players (VGPs) and twenty non-video game players (NVGPs) of 60 years of age or older participated in the present study, and there are no significant differences in age (t = 0.62, p = 0.536), gender ratio (t = 1.29, p = 0.206) and years of education (t = 1.92, p = 0.062) between VGPs and NVGPs. The results show that older VGPs present significantly better behavioral performance than NVGPs. Older VGPs activate greater than NVGPs in brain regions, mainly in frontal-parietal areas, including the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the left supramarginal gyrus, the right angular gyrus, the right precuneus and the left paracentral lobule. The present study reveals that video game experiences may have positive influences on older adults in behavioral performance and the underlying brain activation. These results imply the potential role that video games can play as an effective tool to improve cognitive ability in older adults.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Neural Basis of Enhanced Executive Function in Older Video Game Players: An fMRI Study

Wang

Zhu

et al. 2017

Front. Aging Neurosci.

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“…Moreover, as the literature states, baseline individual differences regarding age can determine variations in training effectiveness (Jaeggi et al, 2011 ; Valkanova et al, 2014 ), and if it is safe to say that video games can have beneficial effects when included in a training (e.g., Baniqued et al, 2014 ; Toril et al, 2014 ), such effects might indeed vary based on age-specific aspects which therefore cannot be overlooked (Wang, 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Video Games for Well-Being: A Systematic Review on the Application of Computer Games for Cognitive and Emotional Training in the Adult Population

2018

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Background: Although several excellent reviews and meta-analyses have investigated the effect of video game trainings as tools to enhance well-being, most of them specifically focused on the effects of digital games on brain plasticity or cognitive decline in children and seniors. On the contrary, only one meta-analysis results to be focused on the adult population, and it is restricted to examining the effects of training with a particular genre of games (action video games) on cognitive skills of healthy adults.Objectives: This systematic review was aimed to identify research evidences about the impact on cognitive [i.e., processing and reaction times (RTs), memory, task-switching/multitasking, and mental spatial rotation] and emotional skills of video games training in the healthy adult population.Methods: A multi-component analysis of variables related to the study, the video games, and the outcomes of the training was made on the basis of important previous works. Databases used in the search were PsycINFO, Web of Science (Web of Knowledge), PubMed, and Scopus. The search string was: [(“Video Games” OR “Computer Games” OR “Interactive Gaming”)] AND [(“Cognition”) OR (“Cognitive”) OR (“Emotion”) OR (“Emotion Regulation”)] AND [“Training”].Results: Thirty-five studies met the inclusion criteria and were further classified into the different analysis' variables. The majority of the retrieved studies used commercial video games, and action games in particular, which resulted to be the most commonly used, closely followed by puzzle games. Effect sizes for training with video games on cognitive skills in general ranged from 0.06 to 3.43: from 0.141 to 3.43 for processing and RTs, 0.06 to 1.82 for memory, 0.54 to 1.91 for task switching/multitasking, and 0.3 to 3.2 for mental spatial rotation; regarding video games for the training of emotional skills, effect sizes ranged from 0.201 to 3.01.Conclusion: Overall, findings give evidences of benefits of video games training on cognitive and emotional skills in relation to the healthy adult population, especially on young adults. Efficacy has been demonstrated not only for non-commercial video games or commercial brain-training programs, but for commercial video games as well.

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“… * Mack and Ilg (2014) [ 87 ] 46 19.05 (± 0.6) 2 Occulomotor Tasks * Mack, Wiesmann, and Ilg (2016) [ 88 ] 98 18.00 (± 0.20) Spatial Cueing Task * Morin-Moncet et al (2016) [ 89 ] 24 24.35 (± 3.64) Serial Reaction Time Task * Richardson and Collaer (2011) [ 90 ] 81 19.50 (± 1.80) Judgment of Line Angle, Position and UFOV Tests * Schubert et al (2015) [ 62 ] 34 24.50 (± 3.35) TVA * Sungur and Boduroglu (2012) [ 91 ] 44 20.50 (± 1.20) UFOV Test * Unsworth et al (2015) [ 92 ] 198 19.49 (± 1.75) SART and Antisaccade Task = Wang et al (2017) [ 93 ] 62 ...…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Seven studies employed validated memory tasks, including the N-back [ 108 ], Wordlist Recall [ 93 ], the Complex shapes task [ 107 ] and the Partial Report Performance task [ 97 ] to compare the memory ability of AVGPs and an age-matched NG control. Five studies found AVGPs to significantly outperform NGs working memory and short-term memory, equating to a 71.4% observed success rate among included studies ( Figure 3 A, Table 2 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The probability that this observed success rate reflects the true success rate of finding AVG group studies to show AVGPs to have superior task-switching ability compared to NGs, given the included studies, is 13.8% ( Figure 3 B). These studies used validated cognitive tests such as the Trail Making Test B (TMT-B) [ 18 ], Number Switch Task [ 93 ], and Multiple Identity Tracking Task [ 91 ]. Applying Laplace’s rule of succession demonstrated that a future study would have an 84.62% chance of finding AVGPs to show superior task-switching ability compared to NGs, based on the included findings.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Converging Evidence Supporting the Cognitive Link between Exercise and Esport Performance: A Dual Systematic Review

et al. 2020

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(1) Background: Research into action video games (AVG) has surged with the popularity of esports over the past three decades. Specifically, evidence is mounting regarding the importance of enhanced cognitive abilities for successful esports performance. However, due to the sedentary nature in which AVGs are played, concerns are growing with the increased engagement young adults have with AVGs. While evidence exists supporting the benefits of exercise for cognition generally in older adult, children and clinical populations, little to no work has synthesized the existing knowledge regarding the effect of exercise specifically on the cognitive abilities required for optimal esports performance in young adults. (2) Method: We conducted a dual-systematic review to identify the cognitive abilities integral to esports performance (Phase 1) and the efficacy of exercise to enhance said cognitive abilities (Phase 2). (3) Results: We demonstrate the importance of four specific cognitive abilities for AVG play (attention, task-switching, information processing, and memory abilities) and the effect that different types and durations of physical exercise has on each. (4) Conclusion: Together, these results highlight the role that exercise can have on not only combating the sedentary nature of gaming, but also its potential role in facilitating the cognitive aspects of gaming performance.

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Age-Related Cognitive Effects of Videogame Playing Across the Adult Life span

Cited by 14 publications

References 50 publications

Neural Basis of Enhanced Executive Function in Older Video Game Players: An fMRI Study

Neural Basis of Enhanced Executive Function in Older Video Game Players: An fMRI Study

Video Games for Well-Being: A Systematic Review on the Application of Computer Games for Cognitive and Emotional Training in the Adult Population

Converging Evidence Supporting the Cognitive Link between Exercise and Esport Performance: A Dual Systematic Review

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