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Yes, Video Games are

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By: Vince | May 9, 2018 10:17 AM Tweet Share Teilen 426
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Traits and
Believe it not, scientific research confirms video games are good for you (video games characteristics of a
are  sports, after all). In fact, several studies (which we'll get to in a second) support the good tutor for your kids
findings.
and teens

I know, it’s hard to wrap your head around such a fact after years of listening to “don’t What is virtual tutoring?
sit too close to the TV, you’ll ruin your eyes,” or “stop wasting your time playing video What are the benefits?
games—go outside!”

But yes, real research from credible sources has shown that a lot of what makes video
games fun, is also good for your health—both for the brain and the body. Teaching kids to code: a
huge informational
guide for struggling
Benefits of Video Games & Gaming parents

1. They exercise the brain Coding for kids: Reasons

kids should get started,
To start, recent studies completed by several noted research and scientific
and how they can find
organizations have proven that playing video games could help improve the quality of success
life for the disabled and mentally ill.

The main study, conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and
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Charité University Medicine St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus in Berlin, Germany, found that
playing video increases grey matter (basically, the size of your brain) and helps refine  Coding
learned and hardwired skills.
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In layman’s terms, playing video games directly affects and impacts regions of the Glossary

brain responsible for memory, spatial orientation, information organizations, and fine
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motor skills.
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The study also reinforces the claim that, like exercise, playing games for as little as 30
minutes a day, can improve your life. (Read here for other video game trivia and  Roblox
facts.)  Robotics
 
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Video Game Brain Study Specifics

To determine how video games affect the brain, scientists selected two groups of
adults. The first group would play Super Mario 64 for 30 minutes a day, for two months.
The second group did not play any video games at all. Scientists used magnetic
Vince Alycia Tyler "Ninja"
resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the size of the brain of the groups before the start
Blevins
of the study, then again after the two-month period.

The results confirmed previous findings—that there were differences in the brain
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structure of video gamers, and that by playing video games, there was a “direct link
between video gaming and a volumetric brain increase.” iD Tech is the #1 tech camp on the
planet, held online and at 150+ global
Simone Kühn, the senior scientist at the Center for Lifespan Psychology at the Max locations - held at Stanford, NYU,
Planck Institute for Human Development, led the study. She claims, “While previous Cambridge, and more - offering 50+
studies have shown differences in brain structure of video gamers, the present study innovative tech courses. 
proves that specific brain regions can be trained by means of video games.”
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By the same token, scientists believe those with mental disabilities (or whose brains
customized learning, leading to "a-ha
had been reduced in size by an accident or medical condition) or others affected by
moments" and awesome outcomes.
brain disease like Alzheimer’s, could benefit from playing video games as well.

With their subjects, scientists saw increases in three major areas of the brain: the After-School Learning
prefrontal cortex, the right hippocampus, and the cerebellum.
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How Different Parts of the Brain Are Impacted by Video Games
The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain responsible for decision making, social
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behavior, personality, and cognitive planning. It makes sense, then, that this area of the
brain is affected by playing Super Mario 64, a game which requires gamers to plan
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ahead and contemplate how to use and interact with objects in a virtual world.

The right hippocampus plays an important role in how we process and consolidate
information, including short-term and long-term memory. Scientists saw growth here
too, caused by players using this part of the brain to navigate Mario’s world.

Finally, the cerebellum was also affected—it’s the part of the brain that controls fine
motor skills or muscular activity. Again, no surprise that it grew as well, since this part of
the brain helps you quickly assess and respond to things happening around you—in this
case, using a gamepad to move Mario at a moment’s notice, or to press the “jump”
button at just the right time.

As you might imagine, the results were more pronounced in those gamers who truly
invested themselves in the gaming, and had a strong desire to beat the game or figure
out the difficulties of a certain level.

And, it’s not just Super Mario 64—Scientists suggest fast-paced action games and
simulations (like sports games and first-person shooters) help improve hand-eye
coordination, and could also be used to help disabled patients as a type of digital
therapy. (Read more for a list of video game genres.)
 

How About Brain Games?

So if an action game like Super Mario 64 signals positive benefits for players, games
built specifically to train, test, and challenge the brain must be beneficial too, right?

Well, since their introduction in the early 2000’s, logic games or brain games have had
a love/hate relationship with the scientific community, mainly because of the claims
video game publishers have made about these titles.

For instance, such claims tout that, for just a few minutes a day, you can train your
brain using video games—and in some cases, that these games will make you smarter.

While that second point of the statement is still being debated, what’s not being
questioned is that brain games aren’t a complete waste of time. Because really,
anything that engages your brain and makes you think is good practice. There are a
ton of brain games online and more available for your gaming platform of choice.

Other brain game benefits include helping players get better with repeated tasks, and
they also provide mental stimulation—something that doctors highly recommend,
especially for older adults and the elderly.

2. They help with real world problem solving

Games can also teach problem solving and strategy, making them valuable tools for
kids and teens.

For instance, Minecraft offers a number of educational benefits, like teaching kids
how to use objects to explore environments and solve problems, while games like
Civilization and SimCity teach problem solving on a more “global” level. (View our entire
list of best video games for kids.)

In SimCity, players lay out and plan a city, and must think ahead to consider how
something like the tax rate may help or hurt the growth of their city, or how street
planning and certain zones may impact growth.

The game also teaches resource management and planning on a basic level, and it
does a nice job of explaining these concepts to younger gamers. Learning and
developing these types of strategies can be directly applicable to life as well.

Last, an indirect benefit is the fact that several video games are based on real historical
events, and can encourage kids to find out more about the world that came before
them through research and reading.

3. They exercise the body

How else are video games good for you? While they can “make your brain bigger,” they
can also help you shrink the waistline, for starters.

Exergames like the Wii Fit have experienced a huge resurgence in the last ten years
thanks to companies like Nintendo and Konami. How? Load up a session of Dance
Dance Revolution and stomp out a dance routine—or better yet, plug in a Wii Fit and
you’ll see exactly what we are talking about.

Exergames and fitness video games have revolutionized exercising in surprisingly

positive ways.

Really, it’s the convenience that makes such games so appealing, as they offer an easy
way to “get to the gym” without physically going to the gym. And for kids and parents
with busy schedules, such games provide a quick way to get in 30 minutes of activity
and exercise.

Exergames get players up and moving, helping with circulation, joint flexibility,
coordination, and balance.  And thanks to technology, many of these same games
track your progress, through your number of repetitions, and even help you set goals to
keep you motivated—all without the commitment of a gym membership.
 

4. They offer other physical benefits

From another physical perspective, video games can improve your eyesight. A study
by the University of Rochester proved video games improve vision by making gamers
more responsive to different shades of color. The same study, funded by the National
Eye Institute and the Office of Naval Research, found that players of action games - like
first-person shooters - had better perception of color contrast.

Additionally, video games have been proven to improve fine-motor skills in

preschoolers, and a study published in the medical journal PLOS One found that
surgeons who played video games - more specifically, the Nintendo Wii - became
better surgeons! By playing games, they improved their hand-eye coordination and
precise muscle movement—both essential skills for their practice.

Great, So Play as Much as Possible?

So yes, video games are actually good for you on many levels. Of course, we must add,
like anything, to maintain such benefits, games should be consumed in moderation.
Staying up all night, every single night, to fight off zombies? Maybe not the best thing for
your health.

Want one more beneficial aspect of video games?

Learning the skills needed to create your own game can give kids and teens a leg up
when it comes to securing dream internships and lucrative jobs down the road.

With a program like iD Tech, students enter their sessions as pure video game players,
and end their week with the knowledge and skills required to become video game
creators.

Learn more about iD Tech summer video game summer camps and online learning
for kids and teens.

Tweet Share Teilen 426

Vince
Vince has worked as a camp director for iD Tech. Previously, he spent over
20 years in the video game industry, working for companies like Sony,
Microsoft and Disney. Vince has his nerd card fully stamped, with his
favorite stamps including: Pokémon, D&D, comic books and of course, video
games.

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Kentauro Her • 7 months ago

I need to know what is the best game for education
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ZANG • 7 months ago

Are there any locations in germany
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Ryan Mod > ZANG • 7 months ago

Thanks for the question, but not at the moment! You can find all locations here:
https://www.idtech.com/loca.... Best of luck!
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Nathan Bucher • a year ago

Hey vince I found this article very helpful for my Essay for school just wich i gotten your last name
cause that is sadly required in my papers(which i hate)
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WisterianDreamz • a year ago

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darcy • 2 years ago

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Nairu > darcy • 7 months ago

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Donald Hantson • 2 years ago

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