The gaming industry is a multi-billion dollar money-maker, as millions of individuals from all over the world play the different games that are developed each year. There have been a lot of studies on the effects of gaming on an individual’s physical and mental health as well as on their effects on the player’s personality. Recent studies have thrown cold water on myths about computer games and their negative effects on the brain. In fact, these studies have shown that video games are good for you.
A lot of studies have shown that video games can improve decision making, creativity and perception. Individuals who play fast-paced action games were found to make decisions up to 25% faster and more accurately than those who did not play any games. In fact, more qualified gamers can make decisions up to six times every second, compared to four times a second for non-gamers. Players who have a lot of computer game experience can concentrate on up to six things at a go without ever getting confused.
Individuals who play simple games can improve their fine motor skills, strategic planning, memory formation and spatial navigation. Life-simulation games can help to improve the flexibility of the player’s brain, and this has been linked to better intelligence. Another study has also revealed that playing computer games can slow down the natural aging process of the brain by stalling the decline of several cognitive skills. Computer games can also increase the attention span of the child, and this is a skill that can be useful in reading.
Another research has also concluded that individuals who play first-person shooting games will have a better contrast sensitivity function. This is an ability to tell the difference between very small changes in the brightness of an image.
Contrast sensitivity function is one of the first visual aptitudes that diminish with age. This ability is considered very crucial for people who want to drive at night or perform other key tasks in the dark. These researchers believe that the process of finding and aiming at the enemies is an exercise for the eyes.
There are a lot of studies that are being conducted to show how computer games can relieve pain or even help in rehabilitation of patients who suffer from grip problems. Researchers have overwhelmingly concluded that video games can be an exercise for the brain, the eyes, and the hands, and that they can have a lot of benefits for the player.