'Counter-Strike' Players Have Faster Decision-Making Skills, Study Says
Research shows that playing this first-person shooter keeps you mentally sharp.
A new study conducted by the University of Sheffield suggests that seasoned Counter-Strike players have sharper minds, allowing them to make quick and important decisions
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The study, titled The Psychology of Counter-Strike found that Counter-Strike players helps players develop cognitive advantages.
This sets veteran players apart from novices, allowing them to make split-second decisions with remarkable speed and accuracy.
Conducted in collaboration with esports organisation Endpoint, the research examined 230 players of varying skill levels.
Experienced Counter-Strike players outperformed beginners in rapid decision-making, reacting 88.94 milliseconds faster on average
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While this may seem negligible, in high-stakes scenarios — whether in the virtual or real world — it can make all the difference.
Professor Claudia von Bastian, a cognitive psychologist at the University of Sheffield, explains why first-person shooter (FPS) games provide the perfect testing ground.
"Players need to quickly grasp what is happening around them, juggle many different things at once and make decisions on what to focus on to help determine their success in the game," she explained.
The findings align with prior research on gaming's cognitive impact. Traditionally dismissed as mere entertainment, video games — epecially fast-paced shooters — may be fostering mental agility and adaptability
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Eleanor Hyde, a PhD researcher involved in the study, notes that gaming has long been underestimated.
"It is well documented that video games can help people unwind, reduce stress and improve our health and wellbeing, but what we have seen in our research is that games like Counter-Strike can offer positive cognitive benefits as well," she said.
She added that while this field of research is still in its early stages, it can be expanded to explore how different genres of games impact people’s psychology.
"For example, League of Legends, one of the most popular titles in gaming, has received surprisingly little research so far."
While FPS titles emphasise reflexes and situational awareness, strategy-based games could offer distinct cognitive benefits.
As the debate over video games' impact continues, one thing is clear — what happens in-game might not stay in-game after all.
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