Action video game training for cognitive enhancement

•Action video game play improves performance on a variety of tasks.•Benefits have been found in perceptual, attentional and cognitive tasks.•A possible mechanistic underpinning of action video games is 'learning to learn'.•Critical features of video games that produce wide benefits are being uncovered.

Here we review the literature examining the perceptual, attentional, and cognitive benefits of playing one sub-type of video games known as 'action video games,' as well as the mechanistic underpinnings of these behavioral effects. We then outline evidence indicating the potential usefulness of these commercial off-the-shelf games for practical, real-world applications such as rehabilitation or the training of job-related skills. Finally, we discuss potential core characteristics of action video games that allow for wide learning generalization.