Parents often see video games as a waste of time. But playing video games can actually increase children’s intelligence. One study found that those who play games for an average of three hours or more a day outperform their peers on cognitive and memory tests. Computer games have long been associated with youth violence, antisocial behavior and health problems.
MAY BE USEFUL FOR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
But researchers have found that it can actually be beneficial for children’s brain development. The teens had their brains scanned while they took a series of tests that tested their reaction times, problem solving and memory.
Not only did the children get better scores, they also had more activity in the areas of the brain responsible for each function.
The director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which funded the research, Dr. Nora Volkow said: “Several studies have linked video games to behavior and mental health problems. This study suggests that there may also be cognitive benefits associated with this popular entertainment worthy of further investigation.”
It is estimated that more than six in ten children play video games in the US and UK.
HOW WAS THE RESEARCH DONE?
In the study, published today in the journal JAMA Network Open, scientists at the University of Vermont analyzed data from 2,078 American children. The children were asked how long they played computer games each day, and then they were divided into two groups. In total, 1,278 said they had never played video games, while 800 reported using them for at least three hours a day.