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Too much of anything is bad and that’s a fact. So, if your mother tells you to stop playing video games, you probably should. Because doing it too much may lead to health problems.
A research in Canada discovered that playing video games, particularly shooter video games, can damage your brain. Games such as Call of Duty can affect the grey matter in your brain which plays a crucial role in the system.
The same type of video game is also said to damage the hippocampus area of the brain, according to research at the University of Montreal. This is because it causes the hippocampus to lose cells.
But if you don’t overdo playing video games, it is beneficial to your health.
Surprised?
You’re not the only one. In fact, many gamers find this uplifting good news. As long as they don’t overdo it, of course.
How would your health benefit from playing video games?
1. Helps break bad habits
Do you smoke? Are you always craving for a dose of sugar? Can’t stop your brain from thinking about the rewards of bad habits?
Play two-player games or solve puzzles and your cravings will be reduced. This is what a 2014 joint study by the American Cancer Society, the Brown University, and the Stony Brook University discovered.
MRI scans of couple’s brains who participated in cooperative play and puzzle solving showed that the activity has activated the exact same reward center that is triggered when someone smokes or gets a dose of nicotine.
So, if you want to quit smoking, take your mind off the craving by playing video games.
2. Helps reduce pain
The University Of Washington Harborview Burn Center conducted an experiment where patients undergoing treatment for severe burns were made to play a game called Snow World with virtual reality headsets. Patients were reported to ignore the pain 92% of the time while playing the game.
Scientists explained that the reason that this works is due to the “spotlight theory of attention.” The theory suggests that the brain works like a spotlight and can focus on a limited amount of information one at a time. So, if your brain is focused on the video game, you forget about the pain.
3. Helps control painful memories
Did you just come out of a traumatic experience? Are you still bothered by painful recollections of past trauma?
If you play a video game, your risk of PTSD is reduced. A series of studies conducted by the Oxford University revealed that study participants who were made to watch graphic and gory images, and then made to play Tetris for 10 minutes have significantly fewer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The opposite happened with the other group that did nothing.
The explanation lies in the visual processing power of the brain. It has involuntary visual memories or flashbacks that can trigger painful memories. But if it is severely disrupted, then flashbacks are minimised.
You must remember, however, that only visual-heavy games can help. Text-based games don’t have as much effect. So, opt for Jackpot games if you’re not a fan of violent video games and if you’re not sure where to begin, Nostrabet can point you in the right direction, providing reviews of the most established and famous online Bookmakers.
4. Reduce anxiety
If you’re taking your kids to the doctor, allow them to play video games before the scheduled appointment. This is an effective way to reduce anxiety.
Don’t believe it?
The anaesthesiology department of the New Jersey Medical School conducted a research on children scheduled for a surgery. Those who were allowed to play handheld video games before the procedure experienced virtually no anxiety.
And, as compared to children who were given medication before the surgery, those that played games came to from anaesthesia feeling less anxious. This is a result of shifting the brain’s spotlight from the anxiety and pain of surgery to something enjoyable and visual as a video game.
5. Able to overcome dyslexia
Results of studies revealed that video gaming can help overcome mental disability, including dyslexia. Researchers don’t fully understand dyslexia, but they have a theory that attention problems can lead to the mental disability. But if people with dyslexia play video games, they will be forced to concentrate for long periods of time. Something they won’t even realise they are doing.
What is even better is that game scenes change, and players must read instructions in order to navigate or move to the next level. The longer these individuals play video games, where they need to follow instructions and complete missions, the higher the chances of the brain changing the way it is made up.
6. Boosts memory and other cognitive abilities
You know that solving crosswords and Sudoku puzzles keeps the brain working to the highest level. Now, compare this to computer games that require a huge amount of effort from your brain to recognize patterns, remember missions and characters, and perform other activities while doing one or two things, and your memory and other cognitive abilities are improved.
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This content is sponsored by Dylan Moran.
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