Title

Are Gamers Better Crossers? An Examination of Action Video Game Experience and Dual Task Effects in a Simulated Street Crossing Task

Authors

Authors

J. G. Gaspar; M. B. Neider; J. A. Crowell; A. Lutz; H. Kaczmarski;A. F. Kramer

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

Hum. Factors

Keywords

video games; pedestrian safety; distraction; dual task performance; EXECUTIVE CONTROL; ATTENTION; PLAYERS; PERCEPTION; BEHAVIOR; TALKING; WALKING; MEMORY; COSTS; Behavioral Sciences; Engineering, Industrial; Ergonomics; Psychology, ; Applied; Psychology

Abstract

Objective: A high-fidelity street crossing simulator was used to test the hypothesis that experienced action video game players are less vulnerable than nongamers to dual task costs in complex tasks. Background: Previous research has shown that action video game players outperform nonplayers on many single task measures of perception and attention. It is unclear, however, whether action video game players outperform nonplayers in complex, divided attention tasks. Method: Experienced action video game players and nongamers completed a street crossing task in a high-fidelity simulator. Participants walked on a manual treadmill to cross the street. During some crossings, a cognitively demanding working memory task was added. Results: Dividing attention resulted in more collisions and increased decision making time. Of importance, these dual task costs were equivalent for the action video game players and the nongamers. Conclusion These results suggest that action video game players are equally susceptible to the costs of dividing attention in a complex task. Application: Perceptual and attentional benefits associated with action video game experience may not translate to performance benefits in complex, real-world tasks.

Journal Title

Human Factors

Volume

56

Issue/Number

3

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

443

Last Page

452

WOS Identifier

WOS:000334632200002

ISSN

0018-7208

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