The Eye

Video games helps to improve vision. Playing action video games can boost an aspect of adult vision previously thought to be fixed, a US study shows. Researchers found playing the games improved the ability to notice even very small changes in shades of grey against a uniform background. "Contrast sensitivity" is important in situations such as driving at night, or in conditions of poor visibility. The Nature Neuroscience study raises the possibility of using a video game training regime to improve vision. Contrast sensitivity is often one of the first aspects of vision to be affected by ageing.  It can also be affected by conditions such as amblyopia, known as "lazy eye". Improving contrast sensitivity usually requires physical changes in eye optics, through eye surgery, glasses or contact lenses. A team from the University of Rochester studied expert video game players playing games involving aiming and shooting at virtual targets. They found