The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that uses a video game to improve spatial and/or temporal information-processing capabilities of a user. During operation, the system enables the user to play the video game. During execution of the video game, the system first measures spatial and/or temporal information-processing capabilities of the user during the course of playing the video game. Next, the system uses the measured spatial and/or temporal information-processing capabilities to control a spatial placement and/or a temporal presentation rate of target items that the user is required to respond to during subsequent game play to stimulate enhancement of the user's spatial and/or temporal information-processing capabilities.
