Effects of action video game play on cognitive skills: A meta-analysis.

The possibility that playing action video games is associated with enhancements in certain aspects of cognitive function has attracted significant interest from researchers education, psychology, and neuroscience. Previous meta-analyses indicated an overall positive relationship between game play skills. However, follow-up to this previous work warranted, not only because the amount data grown significantly since were conducted, but also left several issues unresolved (e.g., meta-analytic procedures). We conducted a literature search using predefined keywords inclusion criteria identify studies examined Data (a) 105 cross-sectional (221 effect sizes) (b) 28 intervention active control group (91 analyzed separately via models for dependent sizes robust variance estimates correlated hierarchical effects (CHE) small-sample corrections. Consistent our hypotheses, players outperformed nonvideo meta-analysis (large effect, g = 0.64, 95% CI [0.53, 0.74]). Action was causally related improvements skills (small 0.30, [0.11, 0.50]). Publication bias detected set, sensitivity analysis showing high heterogeneous average unbiased effect. analyses point heterogeneity. No moderators found either set; however, may be limited by small sample sizes.