My Brain On Video Games

This paper will review studies that show that video games increase the functions of grey matter in certain parts of the brain, and how video games can help the elderly improve their cognition. This paper will also talk about extra effects video games might have on the brain.

Playing certain video games can have cognitive benefits. Specific video games, like Tetris, have been shown to have positive effects on spatial rotation, while games like Grand Theft Auto V have been shown to increase reaction times within gamers. Open-ended games and interactive games improve problem-solving skills by learning to solve things through trial and error. Interactive games are shown to improve creativity as well. People who play shooter video games show faster and more accurate attention allocation, higher spatial resolution in visual processing, and enhanced mental rotation abilities than those who don’t (Granic, Lobel, & Engels, 2014). Other cognitive benefits of playing video games include improved coordination, enhanced memory, enhanced multitasking skills, and improves attention. Even though, most video games show some kind of cognitive effect, most robust effects come from shooter games, rather than puzzle games (Green & Bavelier, 2012).

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).

In the past years, critics have concluded stating that because of video games being released, homicide rates have dropped seventy-seven percent amongst juveniles and less than seven in ten million students have a chance of being killed at school (Sternheimer 214). In “Do Video Games Kill?” the author states, “the 2005 review found evidence that playing video games improves spatial skills and reaction times, but not that the games increase aggression” (Sternheimer 217). Many different video games have positive effects such as problem-solving skills, following directions, multitasking, quick thinking, and more. Video games increase problem-solving skills by placing obstacles in the game for the player to overcome. Virtual gaming can also teach the players how to follow directions to progress throughout the game. Players learn to multitask by taking on different objectives at the same time. According to the studies conducted by Daphne Bavelier of the University of Rochester found that players become more attuned to their surroundings due to the effects of gaming (Hughes “Benefits of Playing Video Games”). By the player becoming attuned to their surroundings, it allows the player to safely release their competitive urges. The American Psychological Association stated that an estimated of 70 percent of gamers play with friends worldwide (APA). While playing with others a player can enhance their communication skills by giving the players common ground to talk about how to complete certain objectives throughout the game. With video games helping with an individual’s cognitive state it can also help individuals who are recovering from physical harm such as a stroke. A stroke is when the brain loses blood flow,

"The Truth About Video Games And The Brain: What Research Tells Us".Scientific Learning. N.p., 2012. Web. 12 Feb. 2016.

Bavelier and Green have suggested the effects of video games have not been readily determined. (Bavelier, & Green, P.763, 2011). Han and Renshaw, have determined through

Playing video games is popular among children and adults alike. People play video games in almost every household all over the world. This paper explores the impact of video games on the brain. There are good and bad effects of video games. In a 2011 article Bavelier, Green, Han, Renshaw, Merzenich, & Gentile reported the content of game play may produce different effects. The players control images on television, telephones and computer screens. There are positive and negative effects of video games corrupting the brain, it can be addictive and cause behavioral changes.

As virtual reality becomes a reality of our society, the impact of video games has been studied intensely with findings that can support any case for or against the impact videos have on the brain.  When looking into the impact of video games on the brain, one must look at the benefits, the detriment, and the lasting effect of video games.  The impact of the video games on the brain depends on what the video game’s theme is projecting.

First off, amongst the many brain functions that video games affect, vision and hand-eye coordination is one that is positively impacted. Many scientists have demonstrated improvements with contrast sensitivity by studying who plays action video games, in which is an important function for vision. Caplovitz, a cognitive neuroscientist who studies vision, explained how standardized

Video games can improve visual skills and brain function. Video games increase spatial awareness. When playing different video games eyes are focused on a video game a person are more likely to gain different eye strengths after training the brain. Action video games train the brain to better process certain visual information. When people play action video games, they’re changing the brain’s pathway responsible for visual processing (Masnick 1). Video games change brain functions. Researchers today are reporting that first-person-shooter

First of all, the effects of the video game on a person depends on what type of game it is. Some of the most popular games are Call of Duty, and GTA 5. According to npr.org, “ People who played action video games that involve first-person shooters, such as Call of Duty and Medal of Honor, experienced shrinkage in a brain region called the hippocampus, according to a study published Tuesday in Molecular Psychiatry.” (Columbus) Even if it has a negative effect, it also has positive outcomes. Games are also rated by a

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

Video games are typically used as a scapegoat for several reasons, such as causing violence and obesity. Many parents usually consider them a waste of time and others classify video games with being lazy and unproductive. Unfortunately, video game prejudice is nothing new; parents often blame video games for the failing grades that their child received and/or talking back. Although no strong evidence exists to prove these theories, numerous studies have pointed to improvement in cognitive skills, such as vision and hand-eye coordination, for those that play high action video games. Therefore, playing action filled video games may be beneficial to those with vision problems and people with certain diseases that can cause cognitive issues such as poor hand-eye coordination. However, the previously mentioned individuals may be unaware of the studies that have shown the benefits that may be the result of playing high action video games such as Call of Duty or Battlefield. As a result, one can argue that playing high action video games improve vision and hand-eye coordination.

Parents might blame their children’s memory and attention problems on video games. And they can be right, but only if a child spends too much time over playing. The same can be said about watching television. Too much of anything is bad for us, and therefore video games should not be blamed for attention problems. In fact, one study from a Current Biology journal shows that "dyslexic children trained on action video games show significant improvements on basic measures of both attention and reading ability," which shows that action games can increase our attention to details and even be used as a treatment for dyslexic children (R282).

Playing video games is among one of the favorite pastimes of many people around the world. Some play games to kill time with simple tasks found most commonly on the phone, while others play them to challenge their mind in the form of complex puzzles or to practice management skills, some play them to experience a sense of adventure that they just can’t find anywhere else, and many use them as a way to communicate or have fun with friends both near and far. Whatever the reason someone may have for playing video games, they may not think that games can have an effect on their brains. Some would say that playing video games can lead to negative effects such as harming the player’s cognitive skills or causing them to become much more violent than normal. Others would argue that playing video games quickens the minds of their players, leading to higher mental performance or an increased attention to detail. Thanks to this hotly debated controversy many studies have been conducted over the past years in order to settle the debate once and for all. So what effect can playing video games have on the cognitive skills of their players, and are these effects positive, negative, or somewhere in the middle?