Superior Cognitive Flexibility in Players of First Person Shooter Games
A study on FPS video game players' cognitive flexibility shows VGPs have better task-switching abilities than NVGPs. Playing FPS games may enhance cognitive skills by demanding rapid reactions and task-switching.
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The study "DOOM'd to Switch: Superior Cognitive Flexibility in Players of First Person Shooter Games" explores the impact of playing First Person Shooter (FPS) video games on cognitive flexibility. Video game players (VGPs) and non-video game players (NVGPs) participated in a task-switching paradigm to assess cognitive flexibility. Results indicated that VGPs exhibited greater cognitive flexibility with smaller switching costs compared to NVGPs. The study suggests that playing FPS games may enhance cognitive flexibility due to the demands of rapidly reacting to stimuli and switching between tasks in these games. The research highlights the potential positive effects of video game experience on cognitive skills, contrasting with the common focus on negative impacts like violence or addiction associated with gaming. The study emphasizes the need to explore the broader implications of video game experience on cognitive abilities beyond the commonly discussed negative aspects.
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