Lisa Bowen Influence

"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.

“Be a Gamer, Save the World,” written by Jane McGonigal, is an article found in the Norton Reader 14th Edition. Video game critics are often quick to dismiss playing video games as brain numbing and a waste of time. McGonigal challenges critics of video games by discussing the benefits of playing video games. She makes a valid point by stating that video games make players more optimistic and help create better social bonds. These emotions can encourage people to desire working for the betterment of the world. McGonigal believes we can solve some of the world’s most difficult issues with the use of video games. The author makes a valid point, especially considering the advancements in technology and the

Video games can have positive, therapeutic effects on players of all ages, especially those with mental or emotional problems. Games provide a chance to tune out the stresses of everyday life and decompress. Giving your mind time to rest is critical for emotional and mental well-being. Relaxation reduces the risk of heart problems and stroke, boosts memory, buffers against depression, and helps decision making. It even has physical health benefits, by suppressing

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).

Everybody in this country plays video games almost every day. It does not matter what the age is, even though they are not young and have free time they would play video games and enjoy themselves. People and society says that through video games children’s and also some adults become more aggressive and violent. Video games are contributing the act of violence all over the world and they are thinking to stop video games for their benefit. The media makes false assumptions. They are not giving details of video games and missing the benefits of the video games. According to medical daily new research indicates that certain video games actually boost the brain power and improve strategic thinking. Unfortunately, our parents and society does not approve the use of video games and it has been decried by many parents and it creates destructive garbage. It also improves the cognitive flexibility which is the mental faculty of creative and lateral thinking. According to Ericson, “Our paper shows that cognitive flexibility, a cornerstone of human intelligence, is not a static trait can be trained and improved using fun learning tools alike gaming”.(Medical Daily) This is the necessary part of our human brain and it can be achieved by video games and other fun learning activities. There are many advantages just like these from playing video games. They should also look at the benefits and not just focus on the disadvantages. It also helps from

For many people around the world, role playing games is national reality. Others think its time wasting and pointless. Research has shown that playing games such as, video games, board games and violent human games can help with creativity, multitasking and responsibility in the real world and in tough situations.

Video games have become a very popular hobby that anyone can obtain the skill at any point of people’s lives. Video games are a game played by electronically influencing images produced by a computer program on a television screen. In October 1958, William Higinbotham has created the very first videogame. Studies have shown that video games are actually healthy, and these studies can prove wrong what the older generations assume about video games. Although, older people that grew up with a different hobby that was not video games, there many things that videogames can help improve certain skills a human can strengthen.

There are many benefits to playing video games. Some parents and/or educators can use video games as a tool to subconsciously teach and reinforce learning methods. Educational games and games that requires skillful thinking are tools that can help academically. Merzenich (2011) explains in his research that games can help with judgement, memory, cognitive thinking, and higher speeds in skill processing. He gives reasoning behind the academic growth of children that are gamers and how they acquire academic success due to the excessive time they spend playing.

“A new wave of research has found surprising advantages in an activity that many call a waste of time, if not an outright menace”(Paragraph 5). Some video games can be very helpful like math games and grammar games. Video games are considered a waste of time, but it can be very helpful in education and in many other ways. “Scientists have recently linked gaming with increased brain power, making better moral decisions and even physical fitness”(Paragraph 6) Video games are being proven to help people make better choices. On the other hand, they also have been linked with fitness and strength. This said, video games are improving daily life and

Both traditional sports and video games have positive aspects similar to each other, when used with the proper moderations. When used for twenty to thirty minuets a day, video games can improve aspects of the brain that are used in daily life. More traditional and physical sports also enhance aspects of life. Both video games and physical sports can enhance a player’s social life in different

With this in mind, Han and Renshaw gives several studies have reported that video and on-line game play may improve visuospatial capacity, visual acuity, task switching, decision making and object tracking in healthy individuals. Moreover, Han and Renshaw feels like Green and Bavelier that gaming have most benefits than negative effects on the mind. Han and Renshaw argues that any kind of changes of one’s behavior and or alterations of the mind comes down to the individual and the specific kind of game. They show early studies state internet addiction (involving game playing) reported altered social behavior, increases aggression, loneliness, reduces attention and depressed mood in patients with internet addiction. Important to mention, more

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

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

All games are not the same. Hence the level of enhancement may vary from one age group to another. Through gaming, winning and losing strategy is understood better. Hence, this may neglect the adults from thinking about suicide attempts. Again, since the games either individual or team oriented, skills related to managing as well as obeying is furnished to a good extent. Also, as there is a losing result in games, adults would learn to work hard in order to succeed. Through constant gaming practices, one can stay calm and achieve their goal in no time without straining at any cause. Above everything, gaming is purely based on rules. So everyone needs to lead and follow in order to win. Thus, this strategy would always make one learn how to be disciplined and helps them nurture their

Many gamers would argue that videogames have a positive impact on their lives and minds. They would be correct in saying that games do indeed change the way people think, but games go beyond that point, “studies indicate that playing video games not only changes how our brains