A comparative analysis of the processing speed between video game players and non-players

Abstract

Processing speed is an essential cognitive skill in our everyday lives, and, as such, it has been extensively studied. However, there is still uncertainty as to when and how, with appropriate training, an individual's processing speed can be increased across a range of tasks without compromising accuracy. While playing action video games, individuals are required to process information at high speed, forcing the players to make instantaneous decisions and execute responses. Therefore, it seems worth investigating the possibility that the use of video games might serve as an efficient training mechanism for individuals wishing to speed up their overall perceptual reaction times (without sacrificing accuracy). Thus, the aim of the present study is to analyze the processing speed of video game players and compare it to that of non-video game players in order to determine whether these two groups display any significant differences. To this end, a questionnaire collecting data on gaming habits and so-ciodemographic data, as well as two tests that evaluate processing speed, were administered to a sample of 50 university students enrolled in different degree programmes. The scores of the two groups were then compared, and (taking into account possible experimental error) the results showed that video game players have a shorter reaction time than non-video game players and that neither of the groups made more mistakes than the other.