Children who play video games are smarter than their peers

Parents often think of this pastime as a waste of time, but video games actually boost kids’ intelligence. A new study has found that those who play three or more hours a day, on average, perform better on cognitive and memory tests than their peers.

Games have long been associated with violence, antisocial behavior and health problems among young people. However, scientists have found that they are more often beneficial for children’s brain development.

The young men were brain scanned while they completed a series of tests on reaction speed, problem solving and memory. Children who are addicted to computer games not only scored higher, but also showed more activity in the areas of the brain responsible for each function.

Dr. Nora Volkov, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): “Multiple studies show that video games are associated with bad behavior and lead to mental health problems. This study proves that such a pastime can also be beneficial.”

In a study published in the journal JAMA Network Open, researchers at the University of Vermont analyzed data from 2,078 children. Teenagers were asked how much time they spend playing video games each day and then divided into two groups. A total of 1,278 people said they never played video games, while 800 reported playing at least three hours a day.

Each child had a functional MRI scan to measure brain activity. During the scan, participants lay face up while wearing digital glasses, similar to a virtual reality headset. They completed the two tests they were shown.

In the first task, known as the stoplight, the participants followed the arrows that were pointing left or right, pressing the appropriate button when they saw them. In the second test, children were asked to remember an image and then press a button when they saw matches.

The scans showed that children who played video games were, on average, more active. The researchers concluded that games can improve attention.

Dr. Bader Chaarani, leader of the study: “Many parents today are concerned about the impact of video games on the health and development of their children. As games continue to proliferate among young people, it is imperative that we better understand both the positive and negative impact they can have.”

The study was observational in nature, which means it cannot prove whether increased intelligence was due to video games or other factors.

Christina DENISYUK.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Photo: Getty Images