A new American study suggests that, in children, playing video games three hours a day or more improves cognitive performance and memory, compared to those who never play them.
- 98% of children play video games, according to the syndicate of leisure software publishers.
- A third of gamers say video games have helped them make friends and feel like they belong to a community. The majority view their community as caring and welcoming.
- However, some studies recommend limiting the time of exposure to screens (television, video games, Internet) to a maximum of 2 or 3 hours per day for children.
According to new research, the results of which have been published in JAMA Network Open, playing video games could stimulate children’s brain. Researchers from Vermont to EUSA claims that gambling leads to better impulse control and working memory, thereby improving behavior and cognitive performance.
Playing 3 hours a day or more makes memorization faster and more accurate
“Many parents today are concerned about the effects of video games on their children’s health and development, and as these games continue to proliferate among young people, it is crucial that we better understand the positive and negative impact that these games can have”he said in a communicated.
The research team analyzed data from cognitive questionnaires and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain of nearly 2,000 children aged 9 to 10 years. Those who reported playing video games for three or more hours a day were faster and more accurate in memorizing information and controlling impulses.
They also showed higher activity in brain regions called gray matter, associated with attention and memory, compared to their peers who never gambled. Participants also had higher activity in frontal areas related to cognitively demanding tasks and lower in those related to vision. These findings could be due to performing tasks that test impulse control and working memory when playing video games.
Video games: more research is needed on its cognitive benefits
“This study adds to our growing understanding of the associations between playing video games and brain development”adds Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). “Numerous studies have linked video games to behavioral and mental health problems. This study suggests that there may also be cognitive benefits associated with this popular pastime that warrant further investigation. “
Although a number of studies have investigated the relationships between video games and cognitive behavior, the neurobiological mechanisms are not well understood. Only a handful took up the topic and the sample sizes were kept small, with less than 80 participants.
