How Do Video Games Rot Your Brain?

"Researchers at the University of Rochester found that young adults who regularly played action-based video games showed better visual skills than those who didn't" (USA Today). Researchers have also found that the subjects who played video games "were better able to keep track of objects appearing simultaneously and processed fast-changing visual information more efficiently" (USA Today). Video games have made it a long way from when they first started. Some games actually teach children how to read, write, and even count. Teenagers also state that a little gaming after school actually helps take some stress off from classes and the overload of homework.

While there are claims that video games are not beneficial, it is quite reasonable to assume they are. Video game-based learning has become prominent in the world of technology. Crocco states that popular video games are “problem-solving adventures that foster engagement, inquiry, and critical thinking.” The inquiry and critical thinking mentioned by Crocco, paired with the engagement of the player, allow for increased proficiency in those areas. Additionally, Bowen insists that games, including violent games, allow for an expansion of child’s learning along with health and social skills. For example, video games enhance one’s problem solving skills, reasoning, memory, and perception. Although learning is often associated with pure knowledge, children are able to learn socially as well. Since the world is becoming increasingly technology-based, it is convenient for children to learn through technology.

Video games are a enormous part in the world today. “More than 150 million people in the United States play video games regularly or for at least three hours per week. The number of sales has increased and in 2016, 24.5 billion games were sold, up from 23.2 billion in 2015.” “This Type of Video Game May Actually Harm Your Brain.” written by Mahita Gajanan is my positive article and “How Video Games Affect the Brain.” written by Hannah Nichols is my negative article. In this essay I am going to talk about video games and their impact on the brain (Nichols).

They’re learning to learn.” (Gee, 399) Gee might be correct that there is potential to learn through video gaming, however, it is more the content of these games that should be held up to scrutiny. Specifically, the depth of violence and unrealistic virtual worlds involved in many of these games should indeed hold cause for concern. There are no long term studies to draw from telling us that video gaming is either a good or bad thing. But we do have common sense to draw from and we should consider what is known to date from both ends of the spectrum. The popular television show Dr. Phil recently aired an episode when a young man was so addicted to video gaming that it overtook his life. He no longer ate, showered or brushed his teeth and only slept when it physically overtook him. He mentally transformed himself into the video game, ignoring everything else. While this may be only one case, it should not be ignored. When considering the theories both Carr and Gee present, both essays are alarming and brings one not only to the conclusion that education is definitely in crisis in this country, but if were intending on video games to fill some kind of educational void, we are likely a country in

“c(or getting better at) and enjoy. In other words, gameplay is the direct emotional opposite of depression.” Says Jane Mcgonigal, an American game designer and Author. Kids and Adults of all ages enjoy and play video games because they can be helpful in many different ways. For example, they can teach life lessons, motivate children to read, and help train the brain so it can think fast and strong.

Video games are “a waste of time” they don 't actually improve anything, they are just entertainment. However there is drastic evidence to show that couldn’t be further from the truth. They actually have a huge mental benefit that can enhance memory, better hand to eye coordination and enhanced reflexes along with other things aswell. Showing that they are indeed not just a time killer and waster but are hugely benefiting the minds of the people that play them. The first point I would like to bring up is enhanced memory, a study suggests that young children can benefit from the memory aspects of video games. Several children had multiple sessions of several video games with increases challenge and it had been noted that they did show signs of progress in the difficulty but more importantly an increase in a strong memory showing that the two indeed have a connection. Secondly hand to eye coordination, another study was conducted and yet again the gamer who repeatedly played games was faster, sharper and overall better than the non-gamer. The other main point is reflexes which sort of ties in with the other points but deserves another mention, research indicates that fast-paced gameplay along the lines of Call of Duty and other various games, does in fact increase reflexes.

says Gamers must deal with immediate problems while keeping their long-term goals on their horizon. This strategic thinking and complex Video games are goal-driven experiences, which are fundamental to learning. Unlike reading a book, playing a video game is all about active exploration. Video games force your brain to make decisions, says author Steven Johnson. This quick thinking makes your brain on its toes and very active.

It is obvious that the positives that can be gained from utilizing far outweigh the negatives. If schools make a more positive effort to implement video games into the education system, it will lead to an increase in student engagement and make learning more entertaining. Education can benefit from video games in the long run if utilized wisely. It is important for students to achieve a balance between education and gaming in order to achieve academic

A man tells us his IQ raised tremendously only after playing many video games. This man was indeed smarted and more self aware of his surrounding just because of the video games. He had many friends and even made money for playing those games. His whole career depended on this. Without it his life may just fall apart. With these facts we know that videogames can help individual life with little to no bad consequences. This also tells us that video games may help people calm themselves and use this technology as a source of violence online instead of violence in the real world.

I have found a few benefits of gaming. The first positive effect is that action games like Call of Duty actually improve visual skills, someone who plays action games will notice more details in a picture or landscape rather than someone who doesn’t play

Playing videogames teaches people creative ways to solve problems. This allows kids to think outside the box; which allows for better problem solving. This also helps individual’s intelligence quotient since it is based on how fast someone can comprehend certain topics. Gamers also have better and faster analysis and problem solving skills (Raise a Smart Kid). This helps younger gamers later in life and able to make tough decisions and think about all of the possible outcomes of a certain action. Video games are also proven to make gamers anticipate things and be more strategic (Raise a Smart Kid). This means gamers can deal with problems coming at them now but still keeping the long term

After all the years of video games being played people say that they are bad for you and that you should go outside and play sport instead. Kids always get told to play sport but in the end video games can be really helpful with life lessons and they can also help you gain new skills depending on the games that you play.

In today’s society, the concerns for the effects of video games have acquired quite a terrible reputation. Worried parents around the world assume video games make their children do poorly in school, and create violent, desensitized, antisocial children. The increase in violent games, usually get the blame for aggressive behavior, shootings and violence in schools and young individuals. Most beliefs about video games effect on the brain and emotions are very common misconceptions. I strongly believe that video games are an essential tool to learning and gaining much-needed skills. When people look at the studies that have been done on video games and the brain, it will be apparent that some myths about video games have been blown out of proportion. It has come to my attention that there are studies that prove the negative effects of video games may only last the duration of game play. Kids can improve in general knowledge with educational video games like Leap Frog. Video games can train specific areas of the brain as well as increase brain flexibility and memory. Gaming actually has more beneficial effects than negative effects. Video games are excellent educational implement used in elementary schools. It is extremely helpful in brain development and helping kids with trouble reading improve. Memory retention can be improved and increased with the use of strategic, thinking games. Video games, as funny as it might sound, even promote

However, video game technology can greatly improve the ways human interact with their environments in terms of the overall learning process. There is much to be observed and studied in order to perfectly synergize video game technology to precisely benefit humankind. However, this analysis sought to bring to light, research looking into potential benefits in order maximize the learning potential humans could potentially have. There were certain examples supplied which suggested that

Majority of people tend to have the same answer to the age old question of “how do video games affect your brain?” They rot your brain. While that may be true of a dead corpse sitting in front of a TV, that is not true about how they affect a living person. A study done by Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) has shown a correlation that people who play video games have a lower stress level or a easier time dealing with stress than people who do not play video games. In this study 103 people where give a frustrational task then randomly chosen to play different types of video games. According to Dr. Christopher J. Ferguson, a professor at TAMIU, after people who played video games had lower stress levels, reduced depression, and reduced hostile feelings about the task. However video games do not only reduce stress levels, there is also evidence that supports the