Do Video Games Improve Executive Function?

A child playing video games.
Image by Vika_Glitter on Pixabay.

Key Takeaways

  • There are video games that have been specifically designed to improve attention. Two have been approved by the FDA, but are available only in the US and one is used in conjunction with a therapist.
  • “FDA-approved games like EndeavourRX and Cogmed are designed to enhance focus and attention but are not widely available outside the US.”
  • Video games can aid in developing certain skills, but they should complement other activities like sports, arts, and face-to-face interaction.
  • The types of games children enjoy can offer insights into their cognitive strengths, helping parents support their development in everyday life.
  • A mix of engaging, challenging games alongside diverse activities is key to fostering executive function effectively.
  • For further support, explore our free membership site for parents of children with autism or ADHD. Learn how to identify and address underlying challenges using the Integrative Cognitive Profiling Framework.
  • Aspiedent offers autism profiling services that help individuals understand their unique challenges and improve outcomes. If you are interested in having an autism profile, please contact us.

Video games are an extremely fast-growing medium of entertainment enjoyed by both adults and children. They have evolved from the early days of the tennis game ‘Pong’ to becoming sophisticated games offering massive scale with multiple aspects of gameplay, outcomes and ways to interact with both computer-generated characters and other players.

Throughout this development video games have not been without controversy with many being concerned about what they do to harm children, but also those who say they can actually help children in their development.

One big area to explore is whether and how they help with the development of executive function. Various games claims that playing then can help improve all kinds of things including one or more of manual dexterity, processing speed, attention, decision making, problem solving, reaction speed and visual processing. As Executive Function is something that you learn, it is possible that playing video games may help in its development.

However, before believing the hype, it is sobering to recognise that Luminosity has been fined for making claims that they could not back up with scientific studies and banned from making certain claims.

What do scientific studies say?

When data is drawn from multiple studies in this area (meta-analysis) the outcome is inconclusive. Some studies report improvements while others report no improvements and sometimes harm.

Why is this?

Largely the problem comes down to the fact that the studies tend to compare people who do play games to people who do not play games, but your preference as to whether you do or do not like games could be down to your cognitive make up, meaning you already have strengths in areas on which the game focuses. As a rule, people do not like to do things they find really hard. Not only will your cognitive makeup influence whether you play games, it will also influence the kind of games you choose to play.

This would suggest that the playing of video games does more to develop and utilise existing strengths as opposed to overcoming weaknesses and difficulties. It is generally more fun to improve existing strengths than to improve weaknesses. But as executive functioning skills are learned, it does make sense to put the effort in to improve weaknesses. This means choosing games that you would perhaps not normally choose because they are more challenging, more frustrating, and require more persistence to progress.

There are games that have been developed to improve ADHD, notably the FDA approved games: EndeavourRX for children and EndeavourOTC for adults. These two games use a video game experience to strengthen your brain’s ability to focus by requiring you to do two simultaneous challenges at once (target and navigate). The gameplay involves you having to tap specific stimuli while letting other distractions go by whilst navigating a course of obstacles. Doing these at the same time uniquely challenges and alters pathways in the brain, boosting attention and focus. The game will measure your performance as you progress through the game and adjust speed and difficulty meaning that as you get better, it gets harder. This means you get a personalised treatment as opposed to the predefined progression that exists in most video games.

Unfortunately, EndeavourRX and EndeavourOTC are available only in the US. An alternative, which is more widely available could be Cogmed, which is designed specifically for cognitive impairments including ADHD. However, to use this, you have to sign up with a coach who will monitor progress and help you apply the skills to everyday life. The fact it comes with a coach will make it more expensive.

Games that are recommended for clinical use have restricted time use of between 25 and 50 mins a day, normally enforced by the software.

There are a multitude of games for both children and adults that claim to improve executive functioning skills. These include MentalUp, BrainTrain, Cognifit, Luminosity, Monster Physics, Elevate, BrainHQ, Impulse, NeuroNation, and Peak.

Do all video games help with attention?

In short no, they don’t. Games do, however, capture attention and interest to keep people playing but they don’t necessarily develop that skill for use outside of the game. Also games use mechanisms to hold attention and interest such as progression, upgrades, engaging narratives, and opportunities to explore. The combination of reward mechanisms and engaging narrative will help to maintain the player’s attention in a way that is unlikely to convert to everyday life.

So the key difference in a game that is sold for the means of entertainment versus brain training games such as Endeavour where the goal is to engage development is the intent to train rather than engage.

So what conclusions can we draw?

There are many well established ways to improve executive functioning such as boardgames, sport, general play, discovering nature, arts and crafts. Some popular games, such as Simon Says directly develop executive function. Simon Says is good for developing attention and inhibition. The best way to develop executive functioning skills is actually through having fun.

Video games can also be another tool but there does need to be variety in the type of games and you need to stick at the games you find difficult. However, video games are far from the only way of developing skills like visual processing, problem solving, persistence, decision making, emotional regulation and dexterity. These things can be developed via other means - as was the case in the days before video games. Video games offer another tool to develop vital life skills, but they should not be instead of other activities, especially activities that involve interacting with people face to face.

Another aspect of video games is that they can provide a way to identify strengths. The games your child likes to play and the kinds of problems they like to solve can provide insights into their strengths. By understanding these strengths, you can help your child build strategies to help in everyday life - and in school. Identifying strategies based on strengths can even help your child succeed in school subjects that they struggle with.