If you are one of those parents who criticizes their children for spending too much time playing video games, wait… A study conducted at the national level claims that playing for a couple of hours can increase your driving ability.
“This study adds to our growing understanding of the associations between playing video games and brain development,” said NIDA Director Nora Volkow, M.D. “Numerous studies have linked video gaming to behavior and mental health problems. This study suggests that there may also be cognitive benefits associated with this popular pastime, which are worthy of further investigation.”
This study was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Drug Abuse and it involved more than 2,000 children. The study found that children who play video games for three hours or more per day showed increased cognitive brain functions. But the study does not prove that playing games produces better brain functions, only that children who do play seem to test better.
University of Vermont professor Bader Chaarani, told NPR that the study suggests a couple hours of video game play may be beneficial.
There is obviously a negative outcome that results from extended screen time on the mental health and the physical health. However, if that kid is spending one, two or three hours on video gaming, maybe there are some benefits, as our data suggests. These benefits could not be seen if that kid is doing or spending time on other forms of screen time, like texting or watching TVs or YouTube, which are considered more as passive screen time forms.”
The study is inconclusive on whether games deliver cognitive benefits or if those with cognitive benefits sought out games.
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