Playing video games can make you sharper, scientists say

Playing video games may make you smarter, but regular exercise doesn’t, scientists say.

Researchers found that gamers performed better in memory, attention and reasoning than those who didn’t play video games.

The results also showed that moderate exercise of 150 minutes a week – in line with NHS guidelines – did not improve a person’s memory and thinking skills, but rather strengthened their mental health.

The team described the results, published on an online portal called PsyArXiv, as “surprising” because they contradict the widespread belief that exercise can improve cognitive abilities such as learning, attention, perception and memory.

Professor Adrian Owen, a neuroscientist at Western University in Canada, said: “People who play video games frequently, meaning five or more hours a week on a particular type of game, were, on average, cognitively more capable than people who were 13.7 years younger were.” (who didn’t play video games).

“People who rarely played video games and played all types of games for less than five hours per week performed the same as people 5.2 years younger.”

Prof Owen also said those who didn’t meet NHS recommendations for physical activity were “twice more likely to suffer from depression and 1.5 times more likely to have generalized anxiety disorder”.

He said: “I was surprised that video games improved cognition but regular exercise did not, in part because we have shown conclusively in the past that computer-based “brain training” games do not improve cognitive function.

“However, the types of games that heavy gamers play today are quite different from consumer brain training games.”

“Typically they are highly engaging, strategic and can improve visual attention, processing speed and problem-solving skills through intensive repetition and practice.

“Any player also knows that these games are designed to activate the brain’s reward systems, resulting in the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine.”

“This can also have long-term effects on cognitive function.

“As for the fact that exercise does not impair cognition, this was also a surprise given how the World Health Organization recommends that moderate exercise can improve cognition.

“However, since we only examined the long-term effects of regular exercise, it may well be that short, intense exercise impairs cognition – as many people report feeling ‘more productive’ after exercise.”

The study, conducted by Prof Owen and his colleagues at the Science Museum Group in the UK, asked 1,000 adults aged between 18 and 87 to complete a survey and answer questions about their health and lifestyle, including medical conditions and Health status, education and employment status.

They also took part in brain tests that measured various aspects of cognition such as learning, attention, perception and memory skills.

Participants were also asked to estimate the average number of hours per week they spent playing video games over the past 12 months.

These included puzzle games like Minecraft, Civilization, Hearthstone and Roblox, action role-playing games like The Witcher, Mass Effect, Fallout 4, Skyrim, Grand Theft Auto and Assassin’s Creed, and sports games like Fifa, NHL, Mario Kart, Need for Speed ​​and Rocket League.

Prof Owen said the findings could “help us select activities that promote healthy cognitive aging” in the future.

He will present the research on October 19 at the Manchester Science Festival, which runs from October 18 to 27 at the city’s Science and Industry Museum.