Action video games improve brain function: study

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Video games can easily be brushed off as a waste of time especially when people just sit in front of the screen and use their hands to push buttons or maneuver the joystick. However, according to a new study, action video games, that require rapid decision-making due to the quick moving targets, may have beneficial effects on human cognition.

Eureka Alert writes that based on the article "The Impacts of Video Games on Cognition (and How the Government Can Guide the Industry)", the dynamic content and mechanics of action-packed video games are giving off a positive cognitive impact on the brain, even better than "brain games" which were specifically made to enhance learning. The researchers believe it has something to do with game features that require accurate decision-making from players.

The authors of the study, Drs. C. Shawn Green from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Aaron R. Seitz from the University of California Riverside, explain that their findings have linked action video games to improved attention span, thought process and brain cognitive functions which include low-level vision through expert learning abilities. Surprisingly, no other type of video games have produced the same level of impact on insight and understanding.

However, even if action video games have not been directly linked to attention-deficit disorders, previous studies have stated that they are affecting the attentiveness of children in their classrooms, Medical Daily reports. Behavioral and social aspects were also noted to be affected by video games, making children either aggressive or emotional depending on the game content.

Violence is another concern when it comes to playing action-packed games, The Daily Mail UK adds. Several studies have mentioned that exposure to too much violence may trigger increased aggression in children. These findings have prompted parents to monitor and control these types of games but, due to lack of evidence and as there is no cases reported yet about any aggressive behaviors, these studies have yet to prove that link.

The researchers argue that as video games are continuously evolving to cater modern technology, it led to getting more sophisticated gaming experiences. Furthermore, many new principles have been instantiated which are important in "altering behavior, producing learning, and promoting brain plasticity." They also believe that as video games have more active forms of learning, it is more effective in teaching children than passive learning.

The article was published in the latest issue of Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences journal, a Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences (FABBS).