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Video‐game play and non‐symbolic numerical comparison
Author(s) -
Stäb Joana,
Ilg Uwe J.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1111/adb.13065
Subject(s) - video game , cognition , numerical cognition , cognitive psychology , psychology , computer science , multimedia , neuroscience
Despite the high prevalence of various genres of video games as a form of leisure, the possible long‐term effects of video games on cognitive function remain unclear. In this study, we addressed the possible correlation between playing video games and numerical cognition. Using a cross‐sectional design, we compared psychophysical parameters of video‐game players (VGP) and non‐players (NVGP) as they estimated the number of briefly displayed items in a two‐alternative forced choice paradigm. We used linear regression models to analyse the psychophysical data obtained from 32 VGPs and 34 NVGPs. We did not find differences in the accuracy of numerosities estimation between VGPs and NVGPs. However, sensory precision expressed as the just‐noticeable difference (JND) was better in VGPs as compared to NVGPs and was positively correlated with time spent gaming each week. We argue that the superiority of VGPs in number processing is most likely not due to specific differences in the neuronal processing within distinct areas underlying numerical cognition but rather related to more general differences in the attentional system, most likely the top–down attentional processes implemented in the dorsal attention network.