Happy gaming, and hopefully you will make your brain a little stronger this week!
Monday, January 20, 2014
Can Video Games Make You Smarter?
Believe it or not, I am not a big gamer. I did have an original Atari thanks to my uncle, and I took a Sega Genesis to college (NHL 94 was a great game). I even have a Nintendo Wii sitting next to my TV as I type this blog post. Regardless of having all of those gaming systems at one time or another (I forgot to mention playing Oregon Trail on my Apple IIGS computer when I was a kid), I don't make much time in my busy schedule to sit down and play video games. Based on this video found on Digg.com, though, I might want to start taking a little bit of time each week to play some games. According to the video, playing video games might actually make my brain stronger. I'd be interested to know (you could add a comment to this post) how many hours a week each of you plays video games and what you think of the content of the video above.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think that's pretty interesting, especially considering that video games can make your brain a few years younger. I play about 5 hours a week.
ReplyDeletePlaying video games is a fun down time and I'm happy to know it does help your brain in the long run. Video games for the elderly are kind of like lumosity.com, this site is to help strengthen your brain and can help make your brain a few years younger.
ReplyDeleteMr. Dewey, I know for a fact that you play more than 5 hours a week of video games. Yes I do think that video games can make your brain stronger but only the right games. I play about 1 or 2 hours a week
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that video games can help your brain. I think some video games would help more then others. I don't really play video games, just little games on my phone.
ReplyDeleteThats really cool I never knew that video games were good for you I always thought they were bad for you never knew they could actually help you. Even though I dont really play video games.
ReplyDeleteI think this is pretty intresting, but yes you would have to play the riight games for the to help. not like GTA or COD.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very different subject. I have thought about how certain games could help the brain but most of the games that come out today are all about violence and not so much brain activity games. I don't play much of video games but I do play games on my phone. That is the only experience I really have with games. It is an interesting topic like with what Rachel said, it's all about the type of game you play.
ReplyDeleteI do not play video games nor have I ever had a desire to want to start playing video games. I have always been one of those people that thought video games are a waste of time and money. From just watching that video, it is amazing to see how video games can actually improve brain memory, vision, and reflexes. It is also cool to see that controllers, similar to those used for video games, are being used in medical practices. Maybe I should think about buying a video game system.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the video, video games are good in moderation but excess can cause eye strain and if you sit in place for a long time eventually it can cause back problems. I would say that I am an avid PC gamer and the only thing that gaming has helped me is my ability to type faster.
ReplyDeletethis is pretty neat how video games can help your brain. it probably depends on what video games are being played.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting topic. From the games that I have played they seem only to entertain. However there are some games that help with reflexes and memory.
ReplyDeleteI play video games quite often and its good to know that it does help stimulate the brain in the long run. I've been trying to tell my parents that for years maybe now they will believe me.
ReplyDeleteI may not necessarily play video games as in the Wii or play station, but I still play my fair share of games on my iphone. Knowing that those games help stimulate the brain is a relief because I thought it wasn't good and it was me and I was just killing time.
ReplyDeleteI do not play video games one bit. If i ever do play video games is because i am at a friends house and they are playing video games at there house. I only own one gaming system and that's a wii. I am glad to hear that video games can make your brain a few years younger. I believe that this can come in very handy.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that the video games make your brain younger. Looks like ill be playing more flappy bird even though it makes me angry ill know that it is good for the old noggin!!
ReplyDeleteI found this comment very interesting! I like how you brought up flappy birds
DeleteIts nice to see playing video games can help out for once. I play about 5 hours a week
ReplyDeleteI think it would be possible to learn from video games because it as close as you can get to experiencing what actually happened.
ReplyDeleteI've definitely noticed that I have learned a thing or two from playing video games.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to play more games, but your homework doesn't make that too easy (I kid). That being said, I'm not surprised that there are certain benefits to playing games. I'd say most all activities, if you look hard enough, offer some amount of "good". The problem is we enjoy the activities too much to the point of outweighing the benefits.
ReplyDeleteUsing games for learning seems to be making headway too. Check out:
http://minecraftedu.com/page/
Learning through Minecraft
Also the video you found on Digg seems to copy the format of this channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/minutephysics/
With the voice of this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/user/cgpgrey
Video games can make people get smarter and strengthen the mind. For example first person shooters such as call of duty or halo can impact reaction time and train your eyes to see more of the finer details in a picture. I usually play 20-30 hours a week in the summer and 1-5 during school is in session.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure almost every teen plays some sort of video game in their daily lives, with so much access to technology around. Angry Birds and Temple Run are right at our fingertips when we turn our smartphones on, and even solitaire and pinball were big draws to the old desktop computers. I do play videogames when not overloaded with homework, or when I find myself with extra free time. I've found that for me, not only does it engage my mind in something that I enjoy, but it also gives me an outlet for free-thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, which benefit my thinking skills in the long run, as they state in the video. Though long hours in front of a screen aren't the most productive or prolific ways to spend a day off, especially since looking at the screens for extended amounts of time gives me migraines, moderated time (from one to five hours) throughout the week can be a great stress reliever after long days of school and extracurricular activities.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely good to hear something positive about video games, considering they have been looked down upon for so long. Me being another one whose tried to tell my parents this for years and them not believing it for a second.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the video and several other posters here. Video games are like any other hobby: they can be good for you, but become detrimental to you if you use them excessively. Some games also have educational benefits, which should be promoted.
ReplyDeleteI Believe video games can increase certain parts of the brain. This helps with not only memory and an increase in strategic planning, but with motor skills. Some video games I have played have informed me on historical events as well as different physics and timing. Many video games are made for puzzling the mind and figuring out riddles. Ultimately, I believe video games can make you smarter.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I have also heard that video games help with hand eye coordination.
ReplyDeleteI think playing video games has many benefits to your mental health. I thought the case studies in the video were interesting, how only thirty minutes of video games a day can increase gray matter. I have read other studies detailing how playing video games increases hand eye coordination. Another benefit I find in video games is they tempt your imagination and allow you to escape the real world. Sometimes a break from reality is a welcome change of pace. The ability now of days to play with friends also adds a social aspect to video games. Puzzle games also test your creativity and can increase the players problem solving skills. But as the video stated too much of one thing can be bad and video games should be used as a small way to boost brain function. I am a proponent of video games as long as a moderate amount of time is put towards it.
ReplyDeleteI think games can make you smarter, but I think it depends on which game it is. Some games are set in history and some games or puzzel/math games. Those can help you brain, but games that really have no point can do the opposite.
ReplyDeleteI play video games but a lot of time I found consuming time that could be better used elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI think certain games will make you smarter and improve your brain function and reaction time, but doing nothing but playing video games will make you fat and your health will suffer. Maybe a video game that requires being physically involved in it would be best for both physical and mental health.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty cool that my teacher played video games. I play video games myself and I really enjoy it. I remember when I got my first video game I played it so much. I believe that playing video games makes you smarter as well, some games really make you think.
ReplyDeleteIt's cool that video games can actually help you, maybe I should spend more time doing that and less time doing my homework.
ReplyDeleteAlex, they aren't suggesting that you spend less time on homework. :)
ReplyDeleteI play video games about four to five hours a week. It is nice to know that they are not all that bad for you because I used to play more than 15 hours a week.
ReplyDeleteIn a typical week I would probably put at least 10 hours into playing video games for the whole week. I do this mostly for the experience and the good story that comes with it. Video games have gotten better and better over the years and they are to the point where the realism is at an all-time high and that just makes them that much better.
ReplyDeleteThroughout a week I usually play about 8-10 hours. I think they can help your brain grow because, unlike the Atari that has one little thing you have to focus on, in the new systems and games there are many things happening at once and they are all changing and you have to keep up with all of them at once. I also think video games help because they take your mind of stress. When I sit down to play a video game I forget about everything that is happening because my brain is working so hard to concentrate on a game that is moving at a high rate.
ReplyDeleteI agree that video games could make you smarter, but i would much rather be working and doing something more productive. Video games may not do a whole lot for you in life but going out and getting a job can make you more financially prepared for things like college
ReplyDeleteI personally love playing video games it is a little break from reality which everyone needs once in awhile. Thinking that video games could be beneficial is crazy to think about because of how much they are looked down upon. I personally think video games can improve memory and hand eye coordination just based off my own experience but if someone ever does something to much of course it's going to be bad for you.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Daniel. In the new PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, you can multi-task while playing a game. I believe that video games can make you smarter because in Assassins Creed (for example) you learn about historical events while playing the game.
ReplyDeleteI play around at least 10-12 hours a week. I play more on the weekend then throughout the week. I believe video games definitely be beneficial to your brains. Many video games now a day force you to us your brain to solve problems and puzzles. Games now a days can force you to make very difficult decisions that can completely change the outcome of your game. For example the video game series Mass Effect is famous for its difficult and in depth decision making. In Mass Effect 2 during the suicide mission you have to assign your companions to tasks that matches their skill set. If you assign them improperly, it will greatly affect the final outcome of the mission. Your mission could end horribly and many of your companions that you've gotten to grow close to throughout the game could die horrifically as well as yourself.
ReplyDeleteI think this is pretty cool, but you have to make sure you play the right kind of games. So playing some fantasy pony game probably wont be good for you brain.
ReplyDeleteThis is cool I play quite a lot of video games. My parents hate the I play so much, but maybe if they see this they will believe me. I play about 4 hours a week maybe a little less but im glad to hear it makes your brain a little stronger.
ReplyDelete