Action Video-Game Training and Its Effects on Perception and Attentional Control

Over the past 40 years, video game play has grown from a niche activity into a pervasive and abundant part of modern life. Over half of the United States population now plays video games, with over 130 million of these individuals being considered “regular” video game players (i.e., playing more than 3 h of video games per week—ESA 2015 ). And although video games were originally, and for the most part continue to be, an entertainment medium, there has nonetheless been signifi cant scientifi c interest in the possibility that video gaming may have signifi cant effects on the human brain and human behavior . While much of this research has focused on potential negative outcomes (e.g., effects related to aggression or addiction—Anderson et al. 2010 ), there exists a growing body of research outlining positive effects of video game play as well. This chapter will specifi cally focus on the positive impact that playing one particular type of video game, known as “action video games,” has on perceptual and attentional skills.