Examination of the effects of action video game experience on visual representation of objects

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated improvements in visual and spatial attention for expert action video game players. The present study investigated action video game play related improvements in (1) visual short-term memory capacity and (2) changes in the nature of object representations by comparing expert video game players (VGP) and non-video game players (NVGP) by employing the Multiple Identity Tracking (MIT) task, Color Wheel (CW) task and finally the Useful Field of View (UFOV). Firstly, results of the MIT task showed that VGPs could accurately track more objects and maintain object identities better than NVGPs. Secondly as demonstrated by the results of the CW task, VGPs could remember the color of a probed item on a briefly shown display more accurately than NVGPs. Finally, VGPs were more accurate in locating briefly appearing targets across the visual field. Overall, these results suggested that in addition to improving spatial attention, action video game experience also improves object processing abilities by enhancing some aspects of the visual short term memory processes.