Video games have long been suspect in the eyes of some. People have feared that they make us lazy, antisocial, and violent. They also were thought to damage our brains by making them less able to learn and remember things. There are many people who believe that playing video games can improve your intelligence. Some experts even claim that the type of game you play can have a significant impact on how smart you become. Games like Fortnite and Call of Duty are known to be some of the most popular types of games that can lead to increased IQ levels, so it is definitely worth investigating if this claim is true. However, there is still much debate over whether or not playing video games actually has any positive effects on your mental health. But it looks like these fears are unfounded. Research shows that certain types of video games can actually improve cognitive skills.
They stimulate the imagination
The best video games create virtual realities that involve complex audio and visual stimuli. They also require the player to move around and interact with the environment. This is an active experience that stimulates the brain and improves coordination.
Video games have also been found to help players learn new skills. This can be seen in the way that gamers often pick up different weapons and techniques as they play. They also learn how to maneuver around the game world and use it to their advantage.
Finally, video games help improve memorization. This can be seen anecdotally when kids recite the names of their favorite Pokemon or when adults are able to recall more details from one game session than another.
Video game critics typically cite research that claims it lowers cognitive ability, however, psychologist Walter Boot feels these studies are flawed and overblown. He and two colleagues produced a report suggesting that certain video games may boost cognitive ability.
They develop critical thinking skills
Playing strategy or critical-thinking video games can boost your cognition. They educate you on how to manage resources and make quick judgments under pressure. This style of thinking can help you decide how to tackle a job assignment or challenge.
Besides helping you develop strategic planning skills, video games can also strengthen your eye-hand coordination and working memory. Studies have shown that the fast pace of action games makes you more capable of keeping track of multiple objects and making split-second decisions, which are considered the core elements of intelligence.
The University of Rochester revealed that playing video games promotes brain plasticity, a key cognitive component. This study was small and did not examine sleep, school performance, or physical exercise, which can affect intellect.
They help you focus
Many games require strategy and quick decisions. They also help you organize your ideas and build attentional control. In a shooting game, you must make quick judgments while tracking many opponents and monitoring your character’s health and mobility.
In a study that tested participants’ visual selective attention skills, researchers found that people who played action video games performed better than non-gamers. This could be because these games require constant feedback and rapid changes in the environment, which improves focus.
Despite brain-training software claims, most off-the-shelf games do not boost cognitive skills. gameplay has also been demonstrated to boost concentration, but it’s unclear if this is due to gameplay or creativity.
They help you learn new skills
Video games are designed to help you learn skills such as concentration, imagination, and memory. They also help you understand complex information, like probability distributions and mathematical formulas. They also make it easier to learn languages and teamwork.
Gaming can also help you improve your hand-eye coordination, which is essential in most jobs. Action games also train you to respond quickly and anticipate fast-changing situations. This is important because, in the real world, you don’t have as much time to think about what to do.
Video games may also enhance brain grey matter. You become smarter. One study indicated that gamers have higher IQs. Other studies haven’t confirmed this finding. It’s unclear if all video games have beneficial impacts or are simply action games.
“Can Video Games Make You Smarter?” and “Celebrating The Greatest Saves Of Football: How Goalies Changed The Game” are intriguingly related. The main essay discusses video games’ cognitive benefits, whereas the linked piece praises football goalies’ saves and influence. Sports and video games demand rapid thinking, reflexes, and strategy. Interesting connection. Games and sports improve brain function.