Running head: THE EFFECTS OF TRAINING IN BJB ON UFOV IN OLDER ADULTS The Effects of Training in Bejeweled Blitz on Useful Field of View in Older Adults A Capstone Experience Manuscript Presented by

Title: The Effects of Training in Bejeweled Blitz on Useful Field of View in Older Adults Author: Stacy Ellenberg, B.S. Psychology CE Type: Independent Capstone Thesis Approved By: Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., Psychology Department Approved By: Erik Cheries, Ph.D., Psychology Department There is substantial evidence that links increased age with cognitive declines in attention, processing speed, and working memory. Researchers have recently begun to investigate the idea that video games can be used as an intervention to improve cognitive abilities in older adults. This study investigated whether or not repeated training in the casual video game Bejeweled Blitz (BJB) results in improved attention abilities in 9 adults ages 65 and older, as measured by the Useful Field of View (UFOV) task. Pre-post improvements in BJB scores were correlated with improvements in UFOV scores, suggesting that BJB training produced transfer of skills to this measure of attention.