Relationship between long-term recreational video gaming and visual processing

Abstract

Studies reported that previous experience or training with video games can lead to improvements on perceptual and sensory processing. However, the results are scarce and often contradictory. An explanation may be related to differences in procedures, training, types of games and samples used in the studies. Here, we investigate whether or not video game players (VGPs; expert gamers) and non-video game players (NVGPs; nonexpert gamers) would perform differently on a visual task. We recruited 30 VPGs and 30 NVGPs aged 18 to 36 years (mean age = 22.29 years; SD = 4.28 years). No differences were observed for any of the spatial frequencies between the groups (p > 0.05). Bayesian analyses were also carried out considering maximum robustness to avoid bias. Our results indicated that the results were minimally influenced, or were not influenced at all, by the recreational practice of action video games. This study highlights the existing gaps regarding the influence of recreational video games on visual processing. We trust our results are relevant and may open doors for future studies using different approaches.