Playing an Action Video Game Reduces Gender Differences in Spatial Cognition

• Published in: Psychological science Vol. 18; no. 10; pp. 850 - 855
• Main Authors: Feng, Jing, Spence, Ian, Pratt, Jay
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Blackwell Publishing 01.10.2007; SAGE Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Action; Adult; Attention; Attention - physiology; Cognition; Cognition & reasoning; Cognition - physiology; Cognitive psychology; Computer & video games; Control groups; Female; Games; Gender differences; Gender differentiation; Gender inequality; Humans; Male; Memory; Men; Mental rotation; Photic Stimulation; Play and Playthings - psychology; Practice (Psychology); Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Research Reports; Research subjects; Rotation; Selective attention; Sex Factors; Sex linked differences; Space Perception - physiology; Spatial ability; Spatial analysis; Spatial attention; Students - psychology; Time Factors; Training; Video games; Video Games - psychology; Videos
• ISSN: 0956-7976; 1467-9280
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01990.x

We demonstrate a previously unknown gender difference in the distribution of spatial attention, a basic capacity that supports higher-level spatial cognition. More remarkably, we found that playing an action video game can virtually eliminate this gender difference in spatial attention and simultaneously decrease the gender disparity in mental rotation ability, a higher-level process in spatial cognition. After only 10 hr of training with an action videogame, subjects realized substantial gains in both spatial attention and mental rotation, with women benefiting more than men. Control subjects who played a non-action game showed no improvement. Given that superior spatial skills are important in the mathematical and engineering sciences, these findings have practical implications for attracting men and women to these fields.