Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 12, 2026
10:38
A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
Published on: July 16, 2015
14.2K
Gaming is related to enhanced working memory performance and task-related cortical activity
M Moisala1, V Salmela2, L Hietajärvi3
1Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland; Department of Teacher Education, University of Helsinki, Finland; Aalto NeuroImaging, Aalto University, Finland.
Brain Research
|November 6, 2016
Summary
Daily gaming activity enhances working memory (n-back task) performance and brain activity in adolescents and young adults. Greater gaming experience correlates with improved accuracy and speed, particularly in demanding tasks.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Previous research linked gaming to working memory improvements, but often excluded brain activity measures and focused on adult experts.
- Adolescents and young adults represent a key demographic for studying gaming's cognitive effects due to high engagement levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between daily gaming activity, working memory performance, and brain activity in adolescents and young adults.
- To examine how gaming experience modulates neural activity in fronto-parietal networks during working memory tasks of varying difficulty.
Main Methods:
- 167 participants (aged 13-24) with diverse gaming experience performed a visuo-auditory n-back task.
- Behavioral data (accuracy, speed) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected.
- Self-reported daily gaming activity was correlated with task performance and brain activation patterns.
Main Results:
- Higher daily gaming activity was associated with enhanced accuracy and speed on the more demanding 2-back working memory task.
- Improved performance on the 2-back task correlated with increased activation in the fronto-parietal network, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
- Gaming was linked to decreased activity in these regions during the less demanding 1-back task, suggesting task-difficulty-dependent neural modulation.
Conclusions:
- Greater daily gaming experience is associated with better working memory functioning in young individuals.
- Gaming appears to modulate fronto-parietal brain activity in a manner dependent on working memory task difficulty.
- These findings suggest that gaming may confer cognitive benefits and alter neural processing even in non-expert young gamers.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Working Memory
1.1K
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
1.1K
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
789
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function.
789
01:30Information Processing Approach
689
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
689
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
1.4K
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the...
1.4K