RESUMEN
Many studies have shown that "action" videogames (VG) training can improve various cognitive aspects (such as attention, enumeration skill, problem solving, vigilance, inhibitory control and decision making). Unfortunately, independently by VG genre, little research has been conducted on the relevance of videogaming frequency to modulate cognitive performance. In the present study, we investigated the differences between two groups of young adults (Experienced Gamers and Casual Gamers, respectively, EGs and CGs) in some attentional and executive abilities. To this end, 19 EGs (age 23.21 ± 1.68 years; gaming frequency 46.42 ± 11.15 h/week) and 19 CGs (age 23.10 ± 2.28 years; gaming frequency 1.31 ± 1.76 h/week) were selected and asked to complete a computer-based and customized version of an executive battery (i.e., Attention Network Task, Game of Dice task, Go/NoGo task and Task Switching). The results showed better basic attentional abilities and alertness level (i.e., as indicated by faster reaction times (RTs) and greater accuracy) in EGs compared to CGs. Moreover, EGs showed a more efficient decision making than CGs, particularly evident in risky decisions. Taken together, such results show that an executive functioning improvement can be observed as a consequence of continuous and constant exposure to VG, independently by the specific genre played. These data can be a useful starting point to develop new and innovative executive training protocols, based and inspired to videogames to be applied in clinical populations suffering, for example, from dysexecutive impairment.
Asunto(s)
Función Ejecutiva , Solución de Problemas , Adulto , Humanos , Tiempo de Reacción , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Videogaming is an increasingly prevalent activity among adolescents worldwide. The present study aimed at adapting the Gaming Motivation Scale (GAMS) to the Italian context, assessing its psychometric properties and verifying its sensitivity to predict depression and anxiety levels. From a sample of 1899 participants, a group of 388 adolescents who participated in the survey was divided into two subgroups of Heavy (HG, N = 188) and Light Gamers (LG, N = 200). A sub-sample of N = 172 adolescents also filled-in CESD and STAI to assess, respectively, depression and trait anxiety. Internal consistency and factorial structure of the Italian version of GAMS (GAMS-it) have been evaluated. Moreover, a latent regression structural equation model by predicting the CES-D and STAI scores with the GAMS-it factors has been carried out. GAMS-it has adequate validity and reliability levels, showing a very similar factorial structure to the original version. Therefore, this scale can be used to evaluate gaming motivation, which is useful for gaming motivation screening. Finally, it has been found that lower gaming motivation can be related to high level of depression and anxiety. The present findings provide a coherent picture, supporting the reliability and validity of the GAMS-it, that appears potentially useful in predicting anxiety and depression levels in a population of adolescents.
Asunto(s)
Ansiedad/diagnóstico , Depresión/diagnóstico , Motivación , Juegos de Video/psicología , Adolescente , Trastornos de Ansiedad , Trastorno Depresivo , Femenino , Juegos Recreacionales , Humanos , Masculino , Psicometría , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Online video gaming is now widely considered an activity possibly related to addictive behaviors, so that the diagnosis of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is now included both in DSM-5 and ICD-11; however, there is still debate about some specific features of such disorder. One debated aspect is time spent playing: IGD gamers certainly play a high amount of time, but, on the other hand, also highly-engaged individuals or people working with video games (e.g.: eSports professional players) may play a lot without developing IGD. The literature agrees on the importance of deepening the role of time spent playing video games in IGD, to understand if it can be considered a symptom useful for the diagnosis, or not: one possibility is that time spent playing is not important in an absolute sense, but relatively to specific day phases. The present research involved 133 participants to test the relationship between average time spent playing over day phases (morning, afternoon, night; week, weekend days), age, game preferences and IGD. IGD score positively predicted time spent playing during weekend mornings, which are a day phase usually dedicated to other activities. Instead, time spent playing during afternoon was negatively predicted by age, according to this day phase being more related to youngsters' spare time, while night playing was related to preference for game genres which need dedicated time to organize multi-playing. Discussion deals with the utility of these preliminary results for future, more systematic research on IGD and its distinctive symptoms.
RESUMEN
The public opinion is ever more interested and worried about possible effects of exposure to VGs (video games) on human life and well-being. Scientific literature shows several evidences highlighting negative outcomes on behavioural, emotive, cognitive and physical health spheres. All these aspects are intrinsically linked to sleep quality and quantity and to date very few studies directly investigated the effects of videogame (VG) exposure on sleep and post-sleep cognitive status. The aim of the present systematic review is to examine the impact that the exposure to VGs can produce on sleep pattern and the consequent post-sleep cognitive abilities. To this extent, only studies directly investigating the effects of VGs on sleep features and post-sleep cognitive abilities have been selected and discussed. Data currently present in literature show the alteration of sleep pattern after exposure to VGs. The analysis indicated a reduction of Total Sleep Time (TST) and an increase of Sleep Onset Latency (SOL), modifications of the REM sleep and Slow Wave Sleep (SWS), and increased sleepiness and self-perceived fatigue. Moreover, post-sleep sustained attention and verbal memory also appear to be impaired. It can be concluded that playing VGs for long periods, particularly in the evening, is a significant, common and probable cause of sleep problems: evening exposure to VGs, in fact, can bring to insufficient and low quality sleep, with possible effects on cognition in the subsequent waking days. Potential methodological flaws and limitations of these studies have also been described and discussed. Because of the very limited number of available study on this topic further research is strongly needed.