Counter-Strike players Are quicker thinkers, study by University of Sheffield confirms

Counter-Strike has been the boon of our lives, always there for us when no one else was, but did you know that while you play, it’s also sharpening your cognitive skills? A study by the University of Sheffield found that experienced Counter-Strike players make faster and more accurate decisions than regular people.

Researchers at Sheffield believe these findings could have real-world applications, and go beyond the scope of gaming by helping professionals in high-pressure fields like medicine, aviation, and finance improve their decision-making skills.

They have also started examining LOL players, and what psychological impact. Now, they’re expanding their work to explore League of Legends and its psychological impact on its massive 150-million-strong player base.

PhD student and gamer Eleanor Hyde was inspired to study gaming’s impact after hearing it dismissed as a waste of time. She explored how gaming influences decision-making, attention, and learning, challenging misconceptions and highlighting its cognitive benefits.