Differential effects of wakeful rest, music and video game playing on working memory performance in the n-back task.

Maxim S. Kuschpel,Michael A. Rapp,Andreas Heinz,Daniel J. Schad,Shuyan Liu,Stephan Heinzel

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01683

Abstract

The interruption of learning processes by breaks filled with diverse activities is common in everyday life. We investigated the effects of active computer gaming and passive relaxation (rest and music) breaks on working memory performance. Young adults were exposed to breaks involving (i) eyes-open resting, (ii) listening to music and (iii) playing the video game “Angry Birds” before performing the n-back working memory task. Based on linear mixed-effects modeling, we found that playing the “Angry Birds” video game during a short learning break led to a decline in task performance over the course of the task as compared to eyes-open resting and listening to music, although overall task performance was not impaired. This effect was associated with high levels of daily mind wandering and low self-reported ability to concentrate. These findings indicate that video games can negatively affect working memory performance over time when played in between learning tasks. We suggest further investigation of these effects because of their relevance to everyday activity.

Highlights

Every task can potentially be interrupted, preceded or followed by a break
Based on linear mixed-effects modeling, we found that playing the “Angry Birds” video game during a short learning break led to a decline in task performance over the course of the task as compared to eyes-open resting and listening to music, overall task performance was not impaired
For the visual analogue scales (VAS) ratings, we found a trend-wise effect of the ability to concentrate on the task [F(2, 68) = 3.10, p = 0.05]: Subjects’ selfrated concentration on the task was 9% better after listening to music (Mean = 55.00%, SE = 4.43%) as compared to after playing the video game (Mean = 46.11%, SE = 4.43%), shown in Figure 2 [t(34) = −2.35, p = 0.03]

Summary

Introduction

Long-established break activities like wakeful resting and listening to music today are joined by more novel diversions like communicating on social media or playing computer games (Edlund, 2010). We investigate the effects of different break activities on subsequent working memory performance. Current theories of working memory involve executive control processes, which mediate the distribution of cognitive resources. This process can depend on lowered attentional control, which has been described as a mechanism in the context of “mind wandering” (Smallwood and Schooler, 2006). Our minds often wander during our daily activities, mind wandering filling up to 50% of our waking time (Killingsworth and Gilbert, 2010). Self-reported mind wandering was found to be systematically associated with particular contexts (Kane et al, 2007): subjects’ minds wandered more

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion