Recent research published in journals health care show that longer gaming sessions are associated with improvements in cognitive function and motor control skills in adolescents. This study challenges the traditional view of gaming as simply a risk factor and suggests that extended gameplay may be correlated with the development of cognitive and motor skills in young gamers.
The debate surrounding the risks associated with gaming has been highly contentious, especially since the World Health Organization (WHO) classified gaming as a potential cause of disease and addiction in the 2018 International Classification of Diseases. This classification identified adolescents and young adult males as particularly vulnerable, linking gaming to antisocial behavior, psychological distress, and academic problems.
However, the same organization recognized its benefits under certain conditions and promoted gaming as a positive activity during the COVID-19 pandemic through its “Play Apart Together” initiative. These conflicting perspectives have fueled an ongoing debate about the role of gaming in society.
Given the popularity of gaming, researchers Hyoyoung Ahn and Jeong-eun Won from Seoul National University sought to investigate the relationship between gaming and adolescents’ cognitive function and motor skills. They aimed to provide empirical data to reveal whether gaming can have a positive impact on development, rather than just a potential risk.
A total of 130 participants participated in the study, with a roughly even split between middle school students (64) and high school students (66). The criteria for inclusion were specific. Participants were required to be regular gamers who used their right hand to control the mouse during gaming to ensure consistency in the motor skills assessed. To avoid confounding variables that may influence results related to visual processing tasks, participants with visual impairments or diseases that affect eye movements or focus were excluded.
Participants first had to complete a questionnaire providing details about their personal gaming habits, including the frequency and duration of their gaming sessions and the types of games they played. After the survey, the actual testing phase began. To avoid conflicts with school schedules, the training was conducted over a period of five months, mainly on Saturday mornings.
During the testing phase, participants underwent a series of cognitive and motor control tests. These included traditional tests such as the Trail Making Test and the Corsi Rock Test, as well as more specialized tasks such as the Tower of London, which assess planning and problem-solving abilities. Modern digital tools were also employed, such as the Stroop test and a computer-based version of the Raven Progressive Matrix.
Participants were divided into four groups based on the frequency of gaming: daily, 5–6 days, 3–4 days, and 1–2 days. However, the results showed that gaming frequency was unrelated to cognitive function or motor ability. This was an unexpected result and called into question the assumption that playing games more frequently could improve cognitive and motor skills through repeated practice and experience.
However, when examining the duration of gaming sessions, a different picture emerges. The data showed that prolonged gaming was associated with improvements in certain cognitive functions and motor control skills. For example, participants who participated in longer gaming sessions performed better on tasks that require quick reflexes and strategic planning, which are often used in complex video games.
“It is noteworthy that even within a sample of regular game participants, there were differences in task performance depending on the level of game participation time,” the researchers wrote.
These findings show that certain skills honed during regular games can be directly applied to similar tasks, suggesting that games have practical benefits for developing certain types of cognitive and motor skills. The idea that there is is reinforced.
However, the study conclusions have certain limitations that may affect the interpretation of the results. Notably, we do not distinguish between different types of gaming devices or game genres, each of which can impact cognitive and motor skills in unique ways.
Additionally, the design of this study does not allow for definitive conclusions about causality. While longer gaming sessions may seem to lead to improved cognitive and motor skills, people who naturally have higher levels of these skills tend to engage in gaming for longer periods of time. is equally plausible. This ambiguity suggests that further research is needed to elucidate the direction of these associations.
The study, “Effects of Adolescents’ Video Game Participation on Cognitive Function and Motor Control Skills,” was published on October 15, 2023.
