Believe it not, research has shown that video games are good for brain development. In fact, there are several studies that support this finding.
rnIt might be difficult to digest this fact after years of being advised not to sit too close or too long at your computer or TV because it not good for your eyes or you should find something more productive to do rather than playing video games all day.
But yes, research from reliable sources has shown that indeed playing online games has health benefits.
Exercising the brain with online video games
For starters, research conducted by several scientific and research organizations have shown that playing online games could improve mental health. The study that was conducted by the Max Planck Institute for Human Development shows that playing video games increases grey matter, which is basically the size of the brain and hones hardwired and learned skills.
Basically, playing video games helps in developing parts or regions of the brain that are responsible for spatial orientation, memory, and information organization. rnThe study goes further to reinforce the claim that, like working out, playing games (even for 30 minutes a day) can improve your overall health.
How video games impact the different parts of the brain
rnThe prefrontal cortex is the front part of the brain that is responsible for social behavior, personality, decision making, and cognitive planning. This is the part of the brain that is affected by playing video games as you will be required to contemplate and figure out how to play the game and win.
The right hippocampus is responsible for consolidating and processing information, including both short- and long-term memory. The study saw growth in this part as well since players are required to use this part to navigate through the game.
Last but not least, the cerebellum, the part of the brain that is responsible for controlling muscles and motor skills, is also affected. This part helps in assessing and responding to things that happen in your environment. In this case, pressing the “jump” button whenever needed or using a gamepad to make a movement in the game.
rnAs you can see, the results are more pronounced in gamers who invest in gaming and have a strong desire to win or figure out the difficulties of the different levels of a game.
It has also been revealed that fast-paced action games improve hand-eye coordination.
The interactivity of online games can stimulate learning and allow you to experience curiosity, challenge, and novelty that stimulate learning. They can also be so engaging, and for this reason, they can be used for therapeutic purposes. For example, they can be used for physiotherapy. There are studies that have shown children who play video games after chemotherapy need fewer painkillers than those who don’t.
What about brain games?
If actions games have a positive impact on the mental health of gamers, what about games that are specifically built to test, challenge and train the brain? They should have more benefits, right?
Since brain games were introduced in the early 2000’s they have had their own fair share of hate and love in equal measure from the scientific community.
One of the main benefits of playing brain games is that it helps you get better at handling repeated tasks, and provide mental stimulation too, something that is highly recommended by doctors, especially for the elderly.
Improving problem-solving skills
Online games also help in developing problem-solving skills, making them more valuable to teens and kids. For example, games like SimCity teach you how to solve problems on a “global” level. In this game, players are required to lay out and plan an entire city, and must be able to think ahead to determine how things like tax rate will help or hurt the growth of the city, or the impact of certain zones or streets to the city.
In addition, the game teaches how to manage resources and plan on a basic level and explains all the concepts to young gaming minds. Developing and mastering these strategies can help you in your everyday life.
Another indirect benefit is that most games are based on historical events and therefore encourage kids to find more information and learn about the world that existed before them.
How online casino games help in brain development
Online gambling may have its downsides, but many people often overlook plenty of good things. Although the common perspective is that wagering real money at an online casino is a risky venture that is likely not to bear fruits, the truth is that there are many invisible benefits that a person can get, including brain development. Cards, casino or games are often full of new intellectual stimulating skills that can impact behavior and thoughts positively.
One of the main benefits of gambling is improving your math. Bettors have to calculate odds, and in doing so, you will be able to improve your number skills. You will also get to improve the efficiency of your brain. Games like
online slots have the ability to stimulate neurological networks in your brain. By playing online games, your brain works faster than that of a non-gambler.
Conclusion
Online video games are not only entertaining but also have great educational potential. Games that are specifically designed to teach a certain skill or address an issue have been very successful mainly because they are interactive, engaging, motivating, and offer a reward to improve. But the most important factor is the transferability of the skills learned to a real-world context.