Do Video Games Improve Our Cognitive Abilities?

 

Video games have quickly gained popularity in our society to the point of being recognized as a subculture. According to statistics in the USA, there were over 89 million game console users in the first quarter of 2017 (Gough). Furthermore, these gamers spend an average of 7.61 hours per week playing video games (Gough). This indulgence has raised the public eye leading to speculations on the possible effects of video games. Unfortunately, many of these effects reported by the media, including increased aggressiveness by the gamers, have cast the gaming community into negative limelight. This has prompted scientists to take up the matter and investigate the actual effects of video games. Consequently, science has proved that video games improve our cognitive abilities.

One of the cognitive abilities improved through playing video games is attention. Subramanian et al. point to the importance of attention as the primary cognitive process that induces a response to a stimulus (60). Multiple research studies suggest that video gamers are less distracted due to the level of attention required to play such games. Consequently, video games are increasingly being recommended for attention-deficit students. Studies by Tiitto and Lodder show that video games are therapeutic for people experiencing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The benefit of improved attention also extends to students in classes, enabling them to pay better attention to their teachers and books. This ensures that they achieve better grades.

Video games also improve visuospatial working memory. The visuospatial skills enable us to analyze visual and special forms in many dimensions. These skills are, therefore, crucial for depth and distance perception as well as movement. The working memory, on the other hand, enables us to maintain and manipulate information over seconds (Zacharopoulos, Klingberg, and Kadosh 107486). The older population is commonly faced by reduced visuospatial skills as well as impaired working memory. One of the studies showed that after playing 3D video games, older adults gained better visuospatial working memory (Toril et al. 206). The improved cognitive process, facilitated by neuroplasticity, was observed to persist for three months after the experiment.

Finally, research shows that video games may have a positive effect on the hippocampus. This is a complex brain structure with a major role in learning and memory. The hippocampus is also highly plastic and vulnerable to stimuli (Anand and Dhikav 239). West et al. report that 3D platform video games lead to an increased grey matter in the hippocampus (1566). However, it is noted that video games which do not engage the visuospatial working memory can reduce the hippocampus. Increased grey matter in the hippocampus translates to better memory and learning, improved spatial navigation, and better emotional behavior. Hence, conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, schizophrenia, and epilepsy are avoided (Anand and Dhikav 239). These are associated with the reduced hippocampus.

Video games can improve our cognitive abilities. Some of the ways this is achieved is by improving the gamer’s attention, improved visuospatial working memory, and an enlargement of the hippocampus. Furthermore, these benefits can be applied as therapy for persons suffering from various cognitive impairments. These include the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer’s disease, and schizophrenia. Perhaps, it is time for more people to embrace video games for both the fun and the mental health benefits.

 

Works Cited

Anand, Kuljeet Singh, and Vikas Dhikav. “Hippocampus in health and disease: An overview.” Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology 15.4 (2012): 239.

Gough, Christina. “Average weekly hours spent playing video games in selected countries worldwide as of February 2019.” Statista, 18 Sep. 2019, www.statista.com/statistics/273829/average-game-hours-per-day-of-video-gamers-in-selected-countries/

Gough, Christina. “U.S. gamers – Statistics & Facts.” Statista, 7 Mar. 2019, www.statista.com/topics/3070/us-gamers/

Subramanian, Muthumeenakshi, et al. “Visualization of Brain Activation During Attention-Demanding Tasks Using Cognitive Signal Processing.” International Journal of Cognitive Informatics and Natural Intelligence (IJCINI) 11.1 (2017): 60-81.

Tiitto, Markus, and Robert Lodder. “Therapeutic Video Games For Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).” (2017).

Toril, Pilar, et al. “Video game training enhances visuospatial working memory and episodic memory in older adults.” Frontiers in human neuroscience 10 (2016): 206.

West, G. L., et al. “Impact of video games on plasticity of the hippocampus.” Molecular psychiatry 23.7 (2018): 1566-1574.

Zacharopoulos, George, Torkel Klingberg, and Roi Cohen Kadosh. “Cortical surface area of the left frontal pole is associated with visuospatial working memory capacity.” Neuropsychologia (2020): 107486.