The effects of gaming on the human brain

Gaming can lead to increased concentration

Recently, there have been mixed opinions about gaming and the 3+ billion gamers as a whole, with some people claiming that gaming is something dreadful that rots your brain the more you play it, and others claiming that it improves certain aspects of people. However, most of these claims tend to be spoken without proper backing or evidence. So, what does the research say? Well, scientists have summarised more than 100 results, and here’s the basics on how gaming affects your brain.

First of all, it is worth noting that it definitely does have an effect on one’s brain, and isn’t just something that happens without effects. The main positive effects of gaming according to studies is that it improves attention (selective and sustained attention specifically) as well as improving reaction times. It also aids in your problem-solving skills and logical thinking, especially if you play puzzle-based video games such as the Legend of Zelda as well as your multitasking skills, since most action games often require you to chain multiple button presses together in rapid succession. Gaming also tends to reduce stress levels during gaming sessions, which is a good idea if you’re looking for a quick way to relax after a long, busy day, especially calming games such as Animal Crossing that have been made for that very purpose. 

However, the main drawback of playing video games is that they have been proven to be very addictive, so if you aren’t careful, you could find yourself spending countless hours gaming without realising when you could potentially be doing something more productive. Additionally, if you play too long without taking a break, like most activities to do with screens, you could potentially get eye strain, in which your vision begins to get blurry for a while and you start to feel a headache.

The final verdict? Gaming isn’t necessarily as bad as some people make it out to be, but it shouldn’t be something that takes up most of your life, either. As long as you remember to take short breaks every so often, maybe after an hour or so of nonstop gaming, and play sparingly, it can improve certain areas of your brain and provide you with quite a fun experience overall, especially with how many video games that are out there for you to play.