Vision Benefits with Action Video Games

An interesting study was published in the January issue of Psychological Science. C. Shawn Green, a grad student in Brain and Cognitive Sciences over at University of Rochester has teamed up once again with Dr. Daphne Bavelier to produce an article in Green’s area of research interest, “visual plasticity.” Green is interested in the relationship video games, particularly “action” video games, hold on visual plasticity. The pair has produced four research articles, two book chapters, and a slew of conference presentations on related topics.

This particular paper indicates the subjects’ spatial resolution was improved through action video games, meaning, for instance, that small type crammed in close together becomes easier to make out.

Here is a portion of their abstract, which sums up the study very nicely: “Playing action video games enhances several different aspects of visual processing; however, the mechanisms underlying this improvement remain unclear. Here we show that playing action video games can alter fundamental characteristics of the visual system, such as the spatial resolution of visual processing across the visual field. To determine the spatial resolution of visual processing, we measured the smallest distance a distractor could be from a target without compromising target identification…”

Spatial resolution is an interesting research angle. Seems easy enough to measure, and may someday produce research that is actionable for producers of educational video games. If game producers can point to Green and Bavelier’s research that shows benefits, whether for treating lazy eye, increasing reading skills, or anything related, acceptance for classroom appropriate video games may increase.

References

C.S. Green, D. Bavelier. (2007). Action-video-game experience alters the spatial resolution of vision. Psychological Science 18(1), 88-94.