Tova Michalsky, Sharon Sofer Klein E35 designed to test far transfer. Future research should distinguish more clearly between these types of transfer (Sala & Gobet, 2017). These findings support the hypothesis that playing Tetris in an immersive 3D VR environment enhances cognitive skills such as spatial perception and may facilitate their application in real-life contexts. They align with prior research (Chavez & Bayona, 2018; Coban et al., 2022), suggesting that virtual environments can improve spatial abilities. The substantial VR-related improvement can be attributed to the enhanced depth, embodiment, and interactivity of VR, which promote spatial reasoning compared to 2D computer gameplay. A significant group × time interaction also appeared in the Perceptual Speed Test, where only VR participants showed improvement. This finding supports the hypothesis that VR’s multisensory environment enhances response speed and pattern recognition, enabling faster real-life information processing. These results are consistent with Wiesing et al. (2020), who suggested that 3D engagement in VR promotes faster perceptual responses. Contrary to expectations, no significant differences emerged between groups in visual working memory, as measured by the Corsi Block-Tapping Test. Neither group improved over time, contrasting with Krokos et al. (2019), who found VR to enhance memory retention. This discrepancy may stem from differences in task type: Tetris, despite its spatial demands, might not strongly engage visual working memory.Their results support the specific transfer view, suggesting that cognitive skills practiced in the gaming environment do not necessarily generalize beyond it. Alternatively, visual working memory improvements may require longer or more varied training than provided here (Nozari & Martin, 2024; Soveri et al., 2017). In contrast to Pilegard and Mayer (2018), the present study supports the transfer of general skills view within VR, particularly regarding spatial perception and perceptual speed, as the VR group showed improvement in both domains. This improvement likely stems from the robust cognitive processes activated in VR. Performance analysis also showed that participants in the VR group achieved significantly higher Tetris scores, suggesting more efficient transfer of in-game cognitive skills to real-life analogues. While both groups improved over the four sessions, the VR group exhibited greater gains. The positive correlations between Tetris performance and spatial perception, especially in the VR group, indicate that VR enhances cognitive mechanisms crucial for both gameplay success and realworld spatial reasoning. These results are consistent with prior work (Dallant & Iacono, 2024; Lindstedt & Gray, 2020) and with studies supporting the specific-transfer-of-general-skills theory (Mayer, 2019; Vedechkina & Borgonovi, 2021; Yen & Chiu, 2021). Overall, these findings reinforce the conclusion that playing Tetris in a VR environment can strengthen cognitive skills both within and beyond the gaming context. A key methodological strength of this study was the integration of immersive VR gameplay with pre- and post-intervention cognitive assessments using validated standardized measures in a structured four-session protocol. This design offers greater rigor compared with many previous VR studies, thus strengthening its contribution to game-based transfer research (Makransky & Mayer, 2022). Conclusion The present study adds to the expanding body of research examining the cognitive benefits associated with virtual reality. The results suggest that virtual reality has the potential to improve spatial perception, perceptual speed, and performance in specific tasks, such as Tetris, while its effect on visual working memory remains unclear. In this study, we found that the use of VR contributed to the improvement in cognitive processes not only within the game but also in tasks beyond the game, due to the robust cognitive processes active in VR. With the ongoing advancement of VR technology, its application in educational and training environments holds promise for improving cognitive skills
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