Video Game Skills across Diverse Genres and Cognitive Functioning in Early Adulthood: Verbal and Visuospatial Short-Term and Working Memory, Hand-Eye Coordination, and Empathy

Abstract

The cognitive and affective impacts of video games are subjects of ongoing debate, with recent research recognizing their potential benefits. This study employs the Gaming Skill Questionnaire (GSQ) to evaluate participants' gaming skills across six genres and overall proficiency. A total of 88 individuals aged 20-40 participated, completing assessments of empathy and six cognitive abilities: verbal short-term memory, verbal working memory, visuospatial short-term memory, visuospatial working memory, psychomotor speed (hand-eye coordination), and attention. Participants' cognitive abilities were examined using the Digit Span Test, Corsi Block Test, and Deary-Liewald Reaction Time Task, while empathy was assessed using the Empathy Quotient Questionnaire. Findings indicate that higher levels of videogaming proficiency are linked to improvements in visuospatial short-term and working memory, psychomotor speed, and attention. Specific genres enhanced particular skills: RPGs were positively associated with both verbal working memory and visuospatial short-term memory, but were negatively associated with empathy; action games improved psychomotor speed and attention; and puzzle games showed a positive relationship with visuospatial working memory. These results add to ongoing research on the cognitive and affective effects of video games, suggesting their potential to enhance specific cognitive functions. They also highlight the complex relationship between video games and empathy. Future research should explore the long-term impacts and genre-specific effects.

Keywords: attentional processing speed; cognition; early adulthood; empathy; hand–eye coordination; short-term memory; verbal memory; video games; visuospatial memory; working memory.

Figure 1

Post-Hoc Comparisons: Performance on Digit Span Tasks per Gaming Level.

Figure 2

Post-Hoc Comparisons: Performance on Corsi Block Tasks per Gaming Level. The asterisks denote statistically significant differences between gaming skill levels. The double asterisk (**) indicates p < 0.01, while the single asterisk (*) indicates p < 0.05, highlighting the significant differences between low and high gaming skill groups in both forward and backward recall tasks.

Figure 3

Post-Hoc Comparisons: Performance on Deary–Liewald Reaction Time Tasks per Gaming Level. The asterisks denote statistically significant differences between gaming skill levels. The single asterisk (*) indicates p < 0.05, highlighting significant differences between high and medium skill levels, as well as between high and low skill levels, in single reaction time. Additionally, * indicates p < 0.05, showing significant differences between low and high skill levels in choice reaction time.

Figure 4

Post-Hoc Comparisons: Performance on Empathy Quotient Questionnaire per Gaming Level.