The Effects of Adolescents’ Participation in Video Games on Cognitive Function and Motor Control Skills

There is still a lack of understanding of the productive areas of video game participation. Therefore, in order to observe positive effects and changes in game participation, this study examines the effects of game participation on the cognitive function and motor skills from 130 adolescents. To evaluate the participants’ test performance, a cognitive function and motor control skill test program consisting of 10 tests were used (Trail Making, Corsi block, Tower of London, shooting game tasks, etc.). Differences in test performances between groups were verified using one-way ANOVA and an independent t-test. The results were as follows: first, there was no difference between groups according to the frequency of game participation in every test performance. Second, the results of this study showed statistically significant differences between groups according to the play time of game participation in several test performances (Key-mapping: p = 0.40; score of Grid Shot: p = 0.01, 0.07; score of Sphere Track: p = 0.12, 0.21; accuracy of Sphere Track: p = 0.12, 0.16). Also, all the effects’ size results were confirmed as medium (Cohen’s f > 0.20 and <0.40). Third, high school students only showed statistically significant higher results in a Multi-tasking test performance than middle school students, and the results of the effect size were confirmed to be middle and large (Multi-tasking1: p = 0.00, Cohen’s d = 0.830; Multi-tasking2: p = 0.05, Cohen’s d = 0.501). The results of this study imply the need to regard game participation as a behavior that can contribute to adolescents’ cognitive psychological health.