Madiha Kauser

How playing game can boost your brain Introduction With the constantly evolving technology and the use of smart devices, video games have taken new forms which were non-existent in the previous decades. Different companies have come up with intriguing and exciting games along with many versions which are quite mind blogging and engaging. Recent studies have proved that playing these games can actually have a positive impact on the human mind and result in bringing changes to the human body as well. A study shows that in the United States almost 29% of the gamers aged 18 to 35 years and 27% of the players were under 18 years old while 26% of the population was 50 years and older. Let’s focus the factors which are responsible for the positive impact on the brain activity. Improves motivation When faced with challenging situations or when having achieved a certain task and completing a level the human body releases a hormone called dopamine which is associated with the feelings of pleasure. This hormone further aids to create feelings of motivation for future task completion and bring positivity. Better memory Playing video games also affect the memory and decision center of the brain. By repetition of a certain game and practice the brain stores the situation which will help to achieve better decision making in the future if faced with similar situations. Increased efficiency and growth A recent study at the Oxford University suggested that constantly learning new concepts while gaming helps growth of the “white matter” of the brain which is responsible for forming connections between the cells. Moreover, it also helps in the overall health of the brain by increasing efficiency by performing the tasks in a better way and making it more adaptive towards learning new concepts. Sensory movements, emotions and multi-tasking Gaming can help to improve sensory movements of the brain as it activates the parts of the brain responsible for carrying out sensory movements. It can also help to increase the levels of oxytocin which activates the feelings of compassion and trust. Also it can help to improve multi-tasking abilities as some games involve using dual senses as well. Better vision A study conducted by the Daphne Bavelier at the University of Rochester showed that people who played shooting games were 58% better at differentiating between the contrasts which according to Bavelier is because “when people are playing action games, they are changing the brain’s pathway responsible for visual processing”. This will further enhance the ability of the visual system while using the information it receives. Conclusion It can be established that the video games can actually help to boost brain power and improve the human body as well. This can be very useful for the overall development of the body and also prevent certain diseases related to the mind such as depression and stress disorder. But it is also necessary to control the number of hours one spends while playing video games. References https://www.statista.com/statistics/189582/age-of-us-video-game-players-since-2010/ http://www.muchgames.com/resources/video-games-affect-human-brain https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201310/video-gaming-can-increase-brain-size-and-connectivity http://www.muchgames.com/resources/the-gamified-brain