Rochester, N.Y. - Despite previous beliefs to the contrary, playing video games has been found to improve vision, according to a new study from the University of Rochester.

The study found that those who played action games several hours a day over the course of a month saw their vision improve by about 20%.

Researchers had one group play a high-action, first-person shooter game, and another play a less visually-stimulating game over the month; none of the subjects chosen had played games much during the previous year.

The researchers then tested the vision of all subjects, finding those who played the shooter game showed improved vision.

"These [action] games push the human visual system to the limits and the brain adapts to it. That learning carries over into other activities and possibly everyday life," said Daphne Bavelier, a professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester.

Related Links:

http://www.bcs.rochester.edu/people/daphne/visual.html#video

http://www.bcs.rochester.edu/people/daphne/webdemos.html

http://tinyurl.com/2qa4m8 (Reuters)