The Effects of Video Games on Object Memory and Spatial Ability in Men and Women

Abstract

Although video games are generally used for recreation, studies are now investigating possible cognitive benefits from video game use. The present study examined how video game experience affects cognitive abilities in men and women. Object memory was tested using an object array task and spatial memory was tested using a mental rotations task to examine whether men and women benefit similarly from video game experience. Results demonstrate that in the object exchange condition of the object array task, women gamers performed significantly better than women non-gamers. This indicates that playing video games regularly may enhance object location memory in women. However, women gamers and non-gamers performed similarly on all other object array conditions and the mental rotations test. Video game use also did not affect performance on the object array task or the mental rotations task in men. These finding suggest that women who play video games regularly may benefit more than men on tests of object location memory. Future studies should examine this possible sex difference using other cognitive tasks. Keywords: Video games, Cognition, Sex differences, Mental Rotations Task, Object Array Task