The Effect Of Action Video Game Playing On"Cool" Executive Functions In Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

The objective of this study is:to explore the efficacy of playing action video game on three types of "Cool" Executive Functions (the abilities of attentional network, working memory and task switching) in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD). We used DSM-IV and CIAS and supplemented by semi-structured interviews to select our subjects. According to the voluntariness of the subjects, we divided the participants into two groups, that is the training group of ADHD (male,5; female2) and the control group of ADHD (male,10; female,3) matched for age, sex, the scores of DSM and CIAS basically. We also used the attention network test,3-back paradigm and task switching paradigm to examine the effect of playing action video game on the three types of "cool" executive function in adults with ADHD. Each group was given two tests-a pretest and a protest. After comparing the results of the pretest and the protest, the results are as follows:(1)There is no significant difference between the CIAS scores of the two groups. But there is also no significant difference between the DSM scores of the two groups.(2) There is a significant difference between the alerting scores of the two groups. The alerting scores of the training group are lower than these of the control group in pretest, but higher in protest. There are no difference between the orienting scores of the groups, also the conficit scores.But from the error rates of the central clue and the spatial clue, there are significant difference between the groups.(3)The independent-samples T test revealed that no significant between the mean reaction time of the two groups. A significant difference between the error rate of the subjects groups.(4) There is a significant difference between the mean reaction time and error rate of TST of the two groups, but not the the mean reaction time and error rate of the switching cost and RTST.From the above results, playing action video game can enhance the alerting attention, but not the orienting attention and the conficit attention in adults with ADHD. It also can improve the ability of working memory of adults with ADHD. But to inference the whole ability of task switching, it may be far-fetched.