Visual Field test learning curve among children

Abstract

V isual fields assessment is a psychophysical process dependent on the functional integrity of the visual system and cognitive factors. Children do not meet all the requirements of the test to the same standard as an adult, nor are they comfortable with the restrictions they traditionally impose. Performance in visual peripheral tasks can be enhanced with training. Also, habitual or recent exposure to a visual task, for example video game playing, can also improve visual performance. Some studies showed strong positive relationships between amount of time gaming and high scores on tests of perception, top-down attention, spatial cognition, multitasking, and cognitive flexibility (ability to switch strategies quickly when old ones don’t work). In our study, there was significant improvement in the time taken to complete the second perimetric test in video game players compared to non-video game players with a negative correlation between test duration change and days of play/week which indicates a better learning curve in the video-game playing group. Also, the VGP group showed an improvement in the percent of false negative errors between the first and second tests that was not detected in non-video gamers. Other reliability indices were, however, not significantly affected by video-game play.