How video games can affect the brain
Video games are very popular among children of all ages. And, due to our technologically paced world, it continues to grow even larger. Children and even adults find their way of entertainment in video games. They play these games whenever they get bored or want to take a short break from their work and studies.
These games try to change people’s mind and mood and they feel much more relaxed than before. Due to its ever-increasing demand, scientists have investigated to discover the effects of video games on the human brain.
Video games and changes in the brain
Games have been found to cause changes in many regions of the brain. Studies show some structural changes in the brain due to video games and also various changes in the functionality and behavior of the brain.
1. Increase attention
We need concentration and attention while playing a game, otherwise we will lose it. Therefore, video games have resulted in the enhancement of various types of attention in humans, including selective attention and sustained attention. Additionally, attention-seeking brain regions are more efficient in gamers compared to non-gamers, needing less activation to stay focused on various tasks.
2. Brain size
Playing video games has also been shown to increase the size and competence of the parts of the brain that are responsible for visuospatial skills (the ability to identify visual and spatial relationships between objects). With long-term players who have followed a game training plan, their right hippocampus has been enlarged.
3. Video game addicts
When talking about video game addicts, there are some structural and functional alterations in the neural reward system (a set of structures associated with the sensation of pleasure, motivation and learning). When we expose these video game addicts to any game-related cues or cues, it causes them cravings and also monitors their brain responses.
4. Helps improve your memory
Brain training games even help boost an individual’s memory formation. Furthermore, it also helps improve the other two important cognitive areas, working memory and sustained attention. These skills are maintained for 6 months after the completion of the training.
5. Decrease in brain-related diseases
When we talk about diseases, each and every person wants a disease-free life. What if it can be done with the help of a video game?
Yes, strategy-based games have been shown to promote improved brain function among older adults and may provide some protection against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Plus, a little brain training can help reverse some age-related brain decline.
In general, these games prove to be valuable as they eliminate stress, improve brain function, cure diseases, as well as being a source of entertainment. But, there is always a second side of a coin. Here, spending too much time playing the video game can be harmful for both children and adults. Speaking of children, it can make their studies difficult and weaken their eyesight as these games are played on a screen. And adults can get in the way of your work while playing in the offices.
So play around to rejuvenate yourself, but too much of anything can be dangerous.