As the popularity of video games increases, a growing literature has begun to examine the association of video game play with cognitive processes. An advantage in cognitive control ability for video game players (VGPs) compared to nongamers (nVGPs) has been suggested by a number of recent studies. Miyake et al. (2000) identify three separable components of cognitive control: ability to shift mental set, updating and monitoring of working memory, and ability to inhibit automatic responses. In three sets of experiments, we investigated claims of a benefit in cognitive control for VGPs compared to nVGPs. Chapter 2 used two task switching paradigms to examine the ability to shift mental set, finding no difference in cognitive control between VGPs and nVGPs when baseline differences in response speed were accounted for. In Chapter 3, a series of nback experiments to investigate working memory demonstrated that VGPs display an advantage in spatial processing, but not in cognitive control. Chapter 4 assessed group differences using three measures of inhibitory control: flanker, Stroop, and go no-go tasks. The results of these experiments suggest that VGPs may rely more on automaticitybased response strategies than do nVGPs, but no group differences in cognitive control were evident. Overall, the results of this dissertation dispute a growing literature that assumes a cognitive control benefit for VGPs compared to nVGPs. Although VGPs reliably show faster performance on a range of tasks used to assess cognitive control (e.g., task switching paradigms), when examined with careful methods, these observed differences in performance are not attributable to differences in cognitive control ability. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Many people enjoy playing video games, and it is important to understand whether playing these games is associated with differences in the way we think, or our ability to complete tasks. Previous studies have claimed that playing video games is associated with increased control over our ability to selectively respond to our environment. This dissertation uses a series of experiments to compare the cognitive control ability of video game players (VGPs), and people who do not play video games (nVGPs). We tested their ability to switch between different tasks, to hold items in memory, and to withhold responses. Results of these experiments suggest that although VGPs may generally respond faster and process spatial information better than nVGPs, there are no differences in cognitive control between VGPs and nVGPs.

No description available.

This study focused on the behaviours of adult video game players in the context of positive and negative effects of video games, to accurately differentiate video game addicts from highly engaged and non-addicted players. To accomplish this, we adopted the Problematic Video Game Playing Test (PVGT) to measure the components of addiction and Flow Short Scale (FSS) to measure high-level engagement. This is a concept which has been lost in the previous studies, setting the current study apart from other studies which were primarily concerned with investigating the negative impact of video games on its players. To get the data needed for this study, we conducted an online survey with a 40-item questionnaire which included demographic information of the respondents, gaming experience and behavioural components of flow and addiction. We were able to attract 80 adult video game players to participate in the study. Our findings showed that 60% of these 80 adult video game players were not addicted, 34% were highly engaged while 6% of the players were addicted. These findings helped us to infer that not all highly engaged video game players are addicted. Furthermore, most of the addicted players were players who have been playing video games for a long time.

No description available.