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Believe It Not
Believe It Not
Believe It Not
games are sports , after all). In fact, several studies (which we'll get to in a
second) support the findings.
I know, it’s hard to wrap your head around such a fact after years of listening to
“don’t sit too close to the TV, you’ll ruin your eyes,” or “stop wasting your time
playing video games—go outside!”
But yes, real research from credible sources has shown that playing video games
actually does have health benefits—both for the brain and the body.
The main study , conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development
and Charité University Medicine St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus in Berlin, Germany,
found that playing video increases grey matter (basically, the size of your brain)
and helps refine learned and hardwired skills.
In layman’s terms, playing video games directly affects and impacts regions of
the brain responsible for memory, spatial orientation, information organizations,
and fine motor skills.
The study also reinforces the claim that, like exercise, playing games for as little
as 30 minutes a day, can improve your life. (Read here for other video game
trivia and facts .)
The results confirmed previous findings—that there were differences in the brain
structure of video gamers, and that by playing video games, there was a “direct
link between video gaming and a volumetric brain increase.”
Simone Kühn, the senior scientist at the Center for Lifespan Psychology at the
Max Planck Institute for Human Development, led the study. She claims, “While
previous studies have shown differences in brain structure of video gamers, the
present study proves that specific brain regions can be trained by means of video
games.”
Finally, the cerebellum was also affected—it’s the part of the brain that controls
fine motor skills or muscular activity. Again, no surprise that it grew as well, since
this part of the brain helps you quickly assess and respond to things happening
around you—in this case, using a gamepad to move Mario at a moment’s notice,
or to press the “jump” button at just the right time.
As you might imagine, the results were more pronounced in those gamers who
truly invested themselves in the gaming, and had a strong desire to beat the
game or figure out the difficulties of a certain level.
And, it’s not just Super Mario 64—Scientists suggest fast-paced action games
and simulations (like sports games and first-person shooters) help improve hand-
eye coordination, and could also be used to help disabled patients as a type of
digital therapy. (Read more for a list of video game genres .)
Well, since their introduction in the early 2000’s, logic games or brain games
have had a love/hate relationship with the scientific community, mainly because
of the claims video game publishers have made about these titles.
For instance, such claims tout that, for just a few minutes a day, you can train
your brain using video games—and in some cases, that these games will make
you smarter.
While that second point of the statement is still being debated , what’s not being
questioned is that brain games aren’t a complete waste of time. Because really,
anything that engages your brain and makes you think is good practice. There
are a ton of brain games online and more available for your gaming platform of
choice.
Other brain game benefits include helping players get better with repeated tasks,
and they also provide mental stimulation—something that doctors highly
recommend, especially for older adults and the elderly.
Real (and Not So Real) World Problem Solving,
Too
Games can also teach problem solving and strategy, making them valuable tools
for kids and teens.
In SimCity, players lay out and plan a city, and must think ahead to consider how
something like the tax rate may help or hurt the growth of their city, or how street
planning and certain zones may impact growth.
The game also teaches resource management and planning on a basic level,
and it does a nice job of explaining these concepts to younger gamers. Learning
and developing these types of strategies can be directly applicable to life as well.
Last, an indirect benefit is the fact that several video games are based on real
historical events, and can encourage kids to find out more about the world that
came before them through research and reading.
Exergames like the Wii Fit have experienced a huge resurgence in the last ten
years thanks to companies like Nintendo and Konami. How? Load up a session
of Dance Dance Revolution and stomp out a dance routine—or better yet, plug in
a Wii Fit and you’ll see exactly what we are talking about.
Really, it’s the convenience that makes such games so appealing, as they offer
an easy way to “get to the gym” without physically going to the gym. And for kids
and parents with busy schedules, such games provide a quick way to get in 30
minutes of activity and exercise.
Exergames get players up and moving, helping with circulation, joint flexibility,
coordination, and balance. And thanks to technology, many of these same
games track your progress, through your number of repetitions, and even help
you set goals to keep you motivated—all without the commitment of a gym
membership.
Learning the skills needed to create your own game can give kids and teens a
leg up when it comes to securing dream internships and lucrative jobs down the
road.
At a summer program like iD Tech, students enter their sessions as pure video
game players, and end their week with the knowledge and skills required to
become video game creators.
Learn more about iD Tech summer video game design classes for kids and
teens.