The use of video games by the smallest of the house always generates controversy. And not only among more or less permissive parents with this increasingly popular children’s entertainment, but among the scientific community there are studies that postulate its negative effects and, as is the case at hand, research that points to a benefit unexpected. Playing video games could improve cognitive performance in children. That has been the discovery of a study carried out by members of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in which they indicate that children who dedicate three hours or more to this type of leisure have better control over their impulses and a greater memory.
The research, which has been published in the journal JAMA Network Open, has analyzed a case of 2,000 children between the ages of 9 and 10 who were subjected to surveys, cognitive tests that measured impulsive behavior and memory, and brain MRIs were performed to see possible changes in this organ. They were separated into two groups based on whether or not they played video games.
“This study adds to our growing understanding of the associations between playing video games and brain development. Numerous studies have linked video games to behavioral and mental health problems. This study suggests that there may also be cognitive benefits associated with this popular hobby, which deserve further investigation,” explains Nora Volkow, lead author of the study.
More brain activity in areas related to attention and memory
The results they found indicated that children who reported playing three or more hours a day were faster and more accurate in tasks that required control of impulsive behavior and memorizing information, all compared to those who never played with the console or the computer. computer.
These results do not indicate that children can make unlimited use of video games, but that it will depend a lot on the theme of the video game.
Furthermore, it was observed that changes in cognitive function were also accompanied by alterations in brain activity. MRIs showed that children who played video games for three or more hours a day had more brain activity in areas of the brain related to attention and memory, and less in those associated with vision, compared to those who did not play .
The possible explanation that the authors are considering is that this result comes from the practice of tasks related to impulse control and memory that are carried out while playing video games, which can become cognitively demanding. However, children who spent more than three hours playing video games tended to have more mental health and behavioral problems compared to those who did not, but the authors found that this association was not statistically significant.
“While we cannot say whether regular video game playing caused superior neurocognitive performance, it is an encouraging finding and we need to continue to investigate in these children as they move into adolescence and adulthood. Today, many parents are concerned about the effects of video games on their children’s health and development, and as these games continue to proliferate among young people, it is critical that we better understand the positive and negative impact these games can have. ”, explains Bader Chaarani, one of the authors of the study.
The researchers have stressed that their results do not indicate that children have to spend unlimited time with computers, televisions or mobiles, but that it should be controlled and will depend a lot on the specific activities in which they participate. Therefore, depending on the type of video game they play, such as action and adventure, puzzle solving, shooting or sports, different effects will be seen on neurocognitive development, although the type of theme was not analyzed in this study.
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