A comparison between action video game players and non-players on working memory abilities

Working memory is essential for higher order cognitive functions like learning problem solving and decision making because it temporarily stores and manipulates information. It consists of verbal working memory which manages language and numbers and visual spatial working memory which handles visual and spatial details while attention maintains and updates this information during tasks. Action video games demand intense focus fast processing and the simultaneous management of multiple stimuli which closely align with working memory skills. However existing research offers mixed results regarding cognitive gains especially for verbal working memory and often fails to differentiate between game genres or specific working memory components. To address these gaps this study compared verbal and visual spatial working memory performance between action video game players and non-players.