The Benefits of Playing Video Games

Playing video games involves your brain's ability to solve problems. In particular, it involves the process of problem-solving skills. Brain development and skill training specifically focus on problem-solving skills during play. Problem-solving skills are developed through interactions with others, working through problems, exercising problem-solving skills, and solving problems in a controlled, real-world setting.

Next, you must consider what playing video games entails. Not all gaming involves hand-eye coordination. In fact, most role-playing type games require the player to be extremely good at math, because the next level requires you to quickly make a decision based on a set of random factors.

Another benefit of video gaming is that many games are violent. In fact, research has indicated that violent games make the player worse in terms of cognitive skills. This is because many games stimulate aggressive thoughts and actions that lead to violence, even beyond the violent actions that some kids get into when playing the game.

Finally, there is a relatively new effect coming out of Europe called the correlation between playing violent video games and violent behavior. This comes from a study done by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). The study found that there is a very strong and significant link between players of violent video games and increased rates of substance abuse as well as aggressive behaviors. Overall, the study did not directly find that violent video games cause aggressive behavior - but it did show a significant increase in the risk of drug abuse and other problems. And since the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction doesn't allow data to be viewed in connection with its results, many scientists are looking into this correlation to see if it is something worth further focus on.

That brings us to a third point: that we know that there is a relationship between the Ritalin drugs that kids take and ADHD. In the last ten years or so, there have been several studies done that directly connect ADHD and video game play. In one such study, college students were given either Ritalin or a placebo and then were asked to play a virtual game. Those who took Ritalin had better spatial visualization and higher IQ scores than those who did not. In another study, college students were given either Ritalin or a placebo and then were given an exam.

But does all of this scientific proof really mean that playing video games is good for your brain? Well, the answer might be, depending on your point of view. If you are more of a techno-geek, then maybe it does help. However, those of us who are more down to earth and think that the benefits of gaming are more about just good old fashion fun would argue that it really has no real benefit at all. After all, don't we already know that action games and other cognitive activities can help boost our cognitive abilities, but what about spatial visualization?

Playing video games may be a great way to kill time, and get the mind occupied, but many experts do believe that there are far better things that we can do for our brains. Playing computer games for instance, can help improve memory, because of the spatial element that they contain. And non-gamers have also found that they can use games as a great way to stay engaged in the events that they are attending to. So the benefits of playing video games are definitely positive, but we need to find the games that are best for our mental health.