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Enhanced Implicit Sequence Learning in College‐age Video Game Players and Musicians
Author(s) -
Romano Bergstrom Jennifer C.,
Howard James H.,
Howard Darlene V.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
applied cognitive psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.719
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1099-0720
pISSN - 0888-4080
DOI - 10.1002/acp.1800
Subject(s) - psychology , sequence (biology) , sequence learning , video game , task (project management) , implicit learning , perception , serial reaction time , musical , cognitive psychology , cognition , multimedia , computer science , visual arts , art , genetics , management , neuroscience , economics , biology
SUMMARY We examined whether college‐age video game players and musicians are better than controls at implicit sequence learning in the Alternating Serial Reaction Time Task. People learn to use subtle sequence regularities to respond more accurately and quickly to predictable versus non‐predictable events. Although previous studies have shown experts' enhanced processing speed and perception, this is the first to demonstrate that people who regularly play video games or a musical instrument showed greater implicit sequence learning, suggesting that experience playing games or music may improve the efficiency with which people learn sequential regularities in the environment. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.