Scientists studied nearly 2,000 children who played video games for more than three hours a day and found out the effect of video games on increasing the decision-making speed of children’s brains.
“This study adds to our growing understanding of the connection between video games and brain development to better understand the benefits associated with this popular pastime, which need further investigation!” said NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow.
Read more: What is a smart guitar? Introducing the Lava May 3 guitar
The effect of video games on increasing the decision-making speed of children’s brain
We know that studies The relationship between video games and cognitive behaviors have investigated, but earlier in these studies, the underlying neurological and biological mechanisms of this relationship were not well understood; Because only a handful of neuroimaging studies have addressed this issue, and their sample sizes have been small, with fewer than 80 participants.
To address this statistical gap, scientists at the University of Vermont, Burlington, analyzed data from children aged 9 and 10. And then the research team collected survey, cognitive, and brain imaging data from nearly 2,000 participants from within the larger study group.
They divided these children into two groups; those who reported playing no video games at all and those who reported playing video games three hours or more per day. This division was chosen because it exceeded the American Academy of Pediatrics’ screen time guidelines, which recommend that video game time be limited to one to two hours per day for older children. Therefore, for each group, the researchers evaluated the children’s performance in two categories, which showed their ability to control impulsive behavior and remember information, as well as their brain activity while doing tasks.
What do the findings indicate?
The researchers found that children who played video games three or more hours a day were faster and more accurate on both cognitive tasks than children who never played. They also observed that the difference in cognitive performance observed between the two groups was associated with differences in brain activity. Brain imaging (MRI) analysis showed that children who played video games for three or more hours a day performed better than children who never played, with greater brain activity in areas of the brain associated with attention and memory. is, they show themselves.
What do researchers think about video games?
According to the researchers, these patterns may result from practicing tasks related to impulse control and memory use while playing a cognitively demanding video game, and these changes are likely to lead to improved performance on tasks related to that game. Additionally, the relatively less activity in the visual areas of children who reported playing video games is because this area of their brains may have become more efficient at visual processing through playing video games and playing them repeatedly.
While previous studies The link between video game play and increased depression, had reported violence and aggressive behavior, this study did not show any such thing. Although children who played video games three or more hours per day reported more psychological and behavioral problems compared to children who did not play video games; In this regard, the researchers found that this relationship is not statistically significant, which means that the authors cannot reject whether this trend indicates a scientific or accidental relationship. They note that this would be an important step in understanding these trends in children’s maturation.
What are the possible disadvantages of video games?
Additionally, the researchers emphasize that this cross-sectional study does not allow for a cause-and-effect analysis, and it is possible that, in general, children who are good at these types of cognitive tasks may choose to play video games. They also emphasize that their findings do not mean that children should spend unlimited time on computers, cell phones, or television. For example, they hypothesized that the genre of video games, such as action-adventure, puzzle solving, sports games, or shooters, may have different effects on neurocognitive development, and this level of specificity was not assessed by the type of video game played. .
last word
The study, the largest in the United States, tracked nearly 12,000 young adults as they transitioned into adulthood. The researchers regularly measure the structure and activity of the participants’ brains using MRI imaging and collect psychological, environmental, and cognitive data, as well as biological samples. In fact, the purpose of the study is to understand the factors that affect the brain, cognitive, and social-emotional development, so that we can gain a better understanding of the factors affecting the improvement of a young person’s life path.
Despite the fact that we cannot say whether playing video games regularly leads to superior neurocognitive performance, the current findings are encouraging and we should continue to investigate it in adolescence and adulthood as well.
Read more:
What is your opinion about the effect of video games on increasing the decision-making speed of children’s brains? Please share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments section technology news Follow from Tikrato.
Source:.sciencedaily