RESUMEN
Background: Video-game play has been shown to significantly affect visuo-spatial cognition, working memory,executive functions and information processing speed. However, scientific literature comparing the cognitivefunctions in players of different video-game genres is very limited.Objectives: Aim of the present study was to assess and compare the impact of playing action or puzzlevideo-games on response speed, sustained attention and executive functions in young adults.Materials & Methods: Fifty players each of action video-game (AVG) and puzzle video-game (PVG) wererecruited from medical undergraduate batches of the Institute. Cognitive functions were assessed by usingLetter cancellation test (LCT), Trail making test A and B (TMT-A&B) and Ruff figural fluency test (RFT).Results: Players of AVG took significantly less time (p<0.05) to complete both LCT and TMT-A as comparedto players of PVG. However, they had significantly higher (p<0.05) LCT errors in comparison to puzzle video-gamers, as their number of omissions and commissions were more. Performance of both the groups wascomparable in TMT-B task. PVG players were able to draw significantly more (p<0.05) number of dissimilarpatterns in RFT as compared to AVG players.Conclusion: Results indicate that playing action or puzzle video-games had a differential impact on cognitivefunctions of gamers. Response-speed was better in AVG players whereas, sustained attention and executivefunctions were better in PVG players. Given that both sustained attention and executive functioning skillsunderpins many areas of our lives including occupational, social and educational settings, future effortsaimed at improving these critical abilities through specific genres of video-game play can surely be explored.