Reasons Why Playing Video Games is Good for You
Playing games can enhance your memory.
They can also have a positive effect on memory. But not in the way you might think! A 2015 study conducted at the University of California determined that playing games could actually boost how the brain forms memory. As we age, it gets harder for us to remember things. However, people who played video games for half an hour a day – specifically games set in 3D worlds – saw an increase in their ability to remember things. Games that explore 3D environments require attention to detail and are great exercise for your brain. Just playing can make your memory better!
games can actually improve your eyesight.
“You’re going to hurt your eyes staring at that screen all day!” If you play games or look at your phone every day, you’ve probably heard these words. But it turns out this isn’t all true! A 2009 study conducted by a group of researchers determined games can actually help your eyesight instead of hurting it. gaming determined that playing action games boosts an ability called Contrast Sensitivity Function. In other words, it’s the brain’s ability to tell the difference between changes in color. This is the same ability that helps people be able to drive at night. Action games change colors quickly, improving your brain’s ability to process color. In fact, according to Bavelier, playing action games after eye surgery or getting corrective lenses can actually help your eyes heal faster!
can boost your coordination.
Remember the family board game Operation? Or Flight Simulator? Games that require you to use delicate movements can be a big boost to your coordination! In a 2010 study, researchers from the Centre for Vision Research in Canada determined that, in addition to games helping hand-eye coordination, they could also help your brain tackle tougher tasks! The more experience you have playing a game, the faster your brain works. As you learn how to play a game, you can perform tasks in the game faster. This muscle memory makes it easier to take knowledge and skills you’ve learned in a game and use them in other areas, too. According to researchers who took part in the study, this “reorganization” of the brain is especially promising for Alzheimer’s patients.
help you make better decisions.
Some games can actually improve your decision and problem-solving skills! A 2013 study determined that strategy games could improve cognitive flexibility. In other words, players who enjoy strategy and resource management games can multi-task and make better, quicker decisions. Strategy games come in many forms. Time management, tower defense, and resource management games are all rely on strategic thinking. Resource management games are especially important, because they make you think about decisions similar to how you would every day at work. Mastering these challenges helps players improve their decision-making skills in real life, giving you the tools to make better decisions even faster!