Altering perception: the case of action video gaming

Abstract

The view that better perceptual skills can open the door to greater cognitive fitness calls for identifying interventions that enhance perception. We review here the impact of action video game play on perception. Cross-sectional studies indicate that action video game players outperform non-players by about ¾ of a standard deviation across all perceptual skills. More specifically, tasks relying on the dorsal system and peripheral vision appear most enhanced in action video game players. Despite their crucial role for establishing a causal role of action video game play on perception, the paucity of intervention studies limits interpretation. Yet, the existing dose-response curve already calls for at least 20 hours of play for significant effects to emerge. When considering the mechanisms at play, we propose that attentional control may mediate the noted perceptual benefits by increasing the quality of the perceptual information gathered, facilitating in turn the development of better perceptual templates.