THE BENEFITS OF PLAYING VIDEO GAMESAccelerate response times. They stimulate creativity, concentration and visual memory. Video games can help children develop skills and establish social connections. Studies show that children who play video games can get a small boost in their reading skills.
This is true even for children who have difficulty reading and even when playing action games. Many games like Minecraft are set in 3D virtual worlds that children have to navigate. And there's no GPS or a map app for smartphones to mark the way. The result is that children who play these games have the opportunity to practice their visual-spatial skills.
This can lead to a better understanding of distance and space. There is also some evidence that games encourage creative thinking. In one study, 12-year-old players were asked to draw, tell stories, ask questions, and make predictions. All children showed high levels of creativity and curiosity.
Children can practice more reading through video games. It is understood to be a private 501 (c) tax-exempt operating foundation (tax identification number 83-236523). Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Understood does not provide medical advice or other professional advice.
The health and medical-related resources on this website are provided for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional diagnosis or medical or professional advice. Yes, there are a lot of positive effects of video games. Games can help people who suffer from addictions or cravings to reduce the intensity of their desires. They can also help people with multiple sclerosis maintain balance and improve cognitive function.
We've remained friends with Xbox LIVE over the years, along with the other players I've crossed paths with. So is playing video games good for you socially? Yes, in many cases they can form and strengthen friendships. The positive effects of video games are numerous, from better memory and problem solving to better mood and social skills. While those who don't play video games may argue that they make you lazy, damage your brain, or ruin your social life, video games actually have a lot of physical, cognitive and social benefits.
The next time someone tells you that you play too many video games, you can check out this list of 10 reasons why video games are good for your brain. Many video games require serious strategy and focus. If you've ever built your own civilization in Minecraft or fought for your life in Fortnite, you know how important it is to remember where you found specific resources or where you should go next. With 3D graphics and immersive audio, video game environments are extremely rich in stimuli.
Navigating the virtual world of video games is now a lot like navigating the real world. In fact, exploring the universes of video games can have a positive impact on the memory of your daily life. When you must juggle multiple tasks and objectives while navigating a virtual space, you are exercising your hippocampus. It is the part of the brain responsible for converting short-term memory into long-term memory, as well as for controlling spatial memory.
When you keep your hippocampus in shape, you'll see a better long-term memory and you'll be able to better navigate physical space. If you're prone to getting lost on your way to the store, video games can help you improve your memory for instructions. As a person ages, their memory naturally decreases. Playing video games regularly can be a good way to keep your mind alert even as you age, so you can always find your car in the parking lot or remember how to get to a friend's house.
This improved spatial visualization has practical benefits, such as knowing if you can parallel park in a small space or organizing your closet so that everything fits together. Good spatial visualization is also essential to success in many STEM careers. As the brain ages, memory, concentration, and ability to multitask begin to decline. While young people are often able to juggle several different mental demands at once, older people can find it difficult to concentrate on even one task.
However, there are many ways to keep your brain young, such as doing puzzles, eating healthy, exercising, and even playing video games. In a study at the University of California, San Francisco, researchers created a simple driving game in which players had to identify traffic signs while driving through obstacles. When required to multitask, players of all ages performed worse than when they only completed one task. However, those between 60 and 80 years old showed a 64 percent drop in performance, while younger participants between the ages of 20 and 30 showed only a 26 percent drop.
However, as older players continued to train with the game, they experienced better multitasking skills, short-term memory, and long-term focus. The benefits of playing the video game were so extreme that older trained players performed better than 20-year-old untrained players. Playing video games that require multitasking and focusing can be a great way to keep your brain young. From a better memory to better navigation, playing the video games you already love is great for your brain.
Now, the next time someone tells you to stop playing video games so much, you'll have an arsenal of evidence to back up your love for games. You can confidently answer the question “How good are video games for you? with examples of the many mental, physical and social benefits of video games. With more than 40 years of experience in the industry, we know a lot about buying, selling and exchanging video games and electronic products. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to chat about your favorite games or even repair your broken console.
Visit us today to find great deals on incredible video games and gaming systems, or buy our supplies online. Now that you know how good video games are for your brain, it's time to start playing. Since the rise of home video games, gamers have experienced a variety of ambitious, complex and challenging games. Today's video games are light years ahead of what people played in the 1970s and 1980s in game rooms and later at home.
Now, there is growing evidence that video games provide benefits to gamers that go beyond simple entertainment. Playing video games can make a person feel young, but games can also prevent them from aging. Problem solving games, also known as mind games, force the player to think about and solve the components of the puzzle. Mind games can improve memory and have positive effects on older people.
A study found that 10 hours of mental play resulted in an increase in cognitive functioning in players aged 50 and over. Reportedly, the improvements lasted for years. Video games have been shown to affect the parts of the brain responsible for memory formation, spatial orientation, strategic planning and fine motor skills. You can train specific regions of the brain by playing video games.
Players can also adapt to real-world challenges more easily due to improvisation during the game. When a player enjoys the story or setting of these games, they may feel motivated to continue learning more about them on their own. With the advent of many fitness video games, it's easy to work out while playing an exciting video game. In other words, people who played Starcraft boasted better cognitive flexibility, since the game requires constant reflection and player participation.
The debate about whether or not the benefits of video games actually exist has been going on since the days of Pong and Space Invaders. Initially, it was a study to determine if video games could curb cravings for junk food and ended up helping those with serious addictions to alcohol and tobacco. In fact, a study by researchers at the University of Iowa showed that playing video games can do just that. Although I am addicted to crossword puzzles, being intellectually stimulated by the benefits of games began in the sixth grade when I first played Shogun Total War.
Researchers at the University of California at Irvine found that playing video games can increase memory capacity. But things have changed and now more professional studies are being done to learn about the real benefits of playing video games. Research has shown that gamers can show leadership traits and motivations in real-world environments thanks to video games. These video games are teaching people to better assimilate sensory data and to translate it into correct decisions.
One of the worst stereotypes associated with video games is that those who do so are rejected, socially awkward. . .