A Study of Critical Flickering Fusion Frequency Rate in Media Players

This study investigated the effect of video games on Critical flickering fusion frequency rate (CFFFR).

CFFFR is the rate of successive light flashes from a stationary light source at which the sensation of flicker disappears and the light becomes steady. CFFFR with higher values suggested that greater perceptual accuracy. The eye and brain act together to perceive flickering light. The activities in the retina and brain are synchronized as a part of the visual process. If the modulation i.e. flicker frequency is high enough, the visual system will perceive flickering light as a continuous steady light. This CFFFR has been used in the studies on physiology of vision, Stress, drug research.

In the present study CFFFR was measured in two age-matched groups of healthy volunteers whose ages ranged from 18–45 years with 75 subjects in each group. Test group consists of Media players who were played video games since their childhood. Control group consists of Non-Media players who did not know how to play the video games. The scope of the present study is to know the effect of video games on CFFFR. The results in our study showed that CFFFR threshold increases significantly in media players when compared to non-media players (p<0.001). This study also showed that CFFFR significantly decreases as the age increases and high CFFFR threshold were recorded in media players who played puzzle and brain games than the action adventure and sports games. The gender effect on CFFFR was not significant but higher CFFR values were recorded for men than women.

This study proved that playing video games can develop cognitive skills, high level thinking skills, problem solving complex, concentration, logical thinking, imagination and creativity but on the other side teenagers who spend an ample amount of time playing games experience effects which are not so beneficial at all.