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BOB HIRSHON (host):
Brain games for visual processing. I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.
As we age, even if we retain perfect vision, it gets harder to pick out individual objects from a group, tell where one object ends and another begins, and how fast objects are approaching. But UC Davis cognitive psychologist Tony Simon says action video game players excel at these tasks, and improve as they play.
TONY SIMON (UC Davis and Cognivive):
So I said there must be something special about playing action video games that targets the neurocognitive system that’s limited these people.
HIRSHON:
His company, Cognivive, is developing video games that target these brain regions exclusively, to boost these abilities.
SIMON:
And so these are things that people can sort of naturally do essentially as entertainment, but with very serious treatment implications that can really improve things at very low cost.
HIRSHON:
The games have undergone early testing, and will go through additional evaluation for efficacy before being offered as treatment options. I’m Bob Hirshon, for AAAS, the science society.
Story by Bob Hirshon
