Video games are often criticized by parents as time-wasters and can lead to bad behavior. However, research suggests that, when played in moderation, video games have many positive effects.
Playing video games changes the physical structure of your brain, similar to learning how to read or navigate with a map. The combination of intense concentration and surges of neurotransmitters strengthens neural circuits, giving your brain a workout.
- Improved Memory
Researchers studying the effects of video games found that people who play them generally perform better on mental tasks. Their study showed that those who played video games performed better than those who didn’t, even when controlling for factors like sex and age.
The study also shows that playing video games improves a person’s visuo-spatial abilities, which helps them better understand the relationship between objects and their locations. This ability is important for activities such as driving and navigating a map.
The researchers also found that those who played video games showed improved working memory, which requires a person to mentally hold and manipulate information. These improvements were seen even after the game-playing sessions ended. The improvements were associated with the hippocampus, a brain area involved in the formation of memories.
- Enhanced Visual-Spatial Skills
While video games are often criticized by non-gamers as a time-waster and a threat to the human brain, research has shown that playing certain types of video games can improve certain cognitive functions. These benefits range from memory to visuospatial skills.
For example, one study showed that students who played a long-term game like Tetris improved their performance in spatial cognition tasks. These improvements lasted months after they stopped playing best real money casino usa the game.
Action video games also can improve a player’s ability to process visual stimuli quickly. Researchers found that gamers can process images more efficiently and see things more clearly than non-gamers. This type of enhanced perception can help in real-life situations, such as recognizing patterns or shades of gray on the road or finding your keys in a crowded room.
- Increased Hand-To-Eye Coordination
Video games that require real-time movement — whether you’re using a controller or a mouse and keyboard, or your finger on a touch screen — can increase hand-to-eye coordination. This is especially true if the game requires quick reflexes, such as first-person shooters.
In a 2014 study, researchers found that gamers had better sensorimotor skills and were able to learn new movements more quickly than non-gamers. They also performed better in a task where they were asked to track a moving object with their eyes.
This shows that gaming can improve motor skills if played in moderation, and is particularly beneficial for young children. However, it’s important that kids not become too reliant on video games because excessive play can lead to problems like lack of sleep and a decrease in self-control.
- Enhanced Logic and Problem-Solving Skills
Video games require players to think critically and solve problems quickly. This is beneficial because in the real world, individuals must problem solve all of the time, and having a brain that is trained to do so will make it easier for them.
Additionally, playing video games helps to improve one’s ability to multitask and solve complex problems, which are skills that are important in the work place. A study showed that gamers were able to solve complex problems up to 25 percent faster than non-gamers.
While it is true that video gaming has many positive benefits, there are some negatives as well, especially if it is done in excess. For example, some studies have shown that heavy video game play can lead to a warped sense of moral values.
- Improved Social Skills
Video games are fun and challenging, but they can also help improve your social skills. Despite the many people who say that top online casinos in Australia games are bad for you, they actually have many positive psychological effects. They are a great way to improve your memory, problem-solving and social skills.
Many gamers play games that require a lot of planning and strategic thinking, which helps them develop the areas of the brain dedicated to problem-solving and logic. Moreover, they can often see the consequences of their actions, which can teach them how to adapt and change their strategies in real life.
Some studies suggest that playing prosocial video games, such as those where players try to help others in need, can increase a person’s willingness to give back. So don’t listen to the naysayers, and let your kids have some fun playing their favourite games!
