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Video games have been a point of contention since they were invented. They were almost immediately written off as time wasters at best, and vehicles for violent behavior at worst.
But now there’s at least some scientific evidence that video games can actually make you smarter.
Of course, there are so many different types of “video games” that it certainly doesn’t apply across the board.
“The term ‘video games’ refers to thousands of quite disparate types of experiences,” said Dr. Shawn Green and Aaron R. Seltz in the study. “A useful analogy is to the term ‘food’—one would never ask, ‘what is the effect of food on the body?’ Instead, it is understood that the effects of a given type of food depend on the composition of the food, such as the number of calories; the percentage of protein, fat, and carbohydrates; the vitamin and mineral content; and so on.”
As is probably not surprising, action games that require close attention to fast-moving targets and peripheral surroundings, are great for cognitive function—sometimes even better than games specifically designed to strengthen cognitive function.
Of course, this isn’t the only effect video games have. While it may make players smarter, it can also affect their focus in other areas, like the classroom or the workplace.
But playing any video game requires learning, says the study. It’s basically all hands-on: a player is required to respond to scenarios or mechanics and see what kind of response they get.
It’s even better than the kind of learning we get in schools, says the study.
So while excessive video game playing may still be unhealthy, at least players’ brains are stronger for it.
