I've got your attention now, right?
Read on for 8 insanely good life-improving reasons to keep gaming online, or, for all of you kid gamers out there, 8 reasons that'll get your mom off your back for good.
Reason #1: Your Brain Will Literally Get Bigger
Moms around the world may think that spending significant time on the PlayStation rots your brain, yet according to scientists, playing video games regularly will directly increase the size of your brain.Recently, Super Mario was the focus of a study conducted by Simone Kühn, a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development. Adult participants played the game for 30 minutes each day for an eight-week period. When compared to those who didn't play any video games, the Super Mario gamers developed increased grey matter Image by Denis Balibouse/Reuters What makes grey matter so important? That mushy, literally grey tissue is home to the cell bodies of our nervous system. When there's more grey matter to go around, we become better at controlling our muscles, our speech, and our emotions.
Kühn's research showed that grey matter increased the most in players' right hippocampus, right prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum—areas that are in charge of important functions like spatial navigation, the formation of memories, strategic planning, and motor skills.
So, the next time you're stuck at work, anxiously counting down the hours until you and your games are reunited, take a little comfort in the fact that you're growing your brain.
Reason #2: They Can Teach You Everything
Your parents might have hated all those hours you spent on your Sega console growing up, but all those hours you logged gaming taught you more than you know.Video games, with their unique worlds, varied rules, and unusual teaching methods, can teach you just about anything.
The different games you play all feature different rules, processes, and strategies, and, as a result, each time you pick up a new game, you're required to learn the ropes. While experienced gamers might have a better grasp of which buttons perform actions in various games, there's still a learning curve in which players subconsciously learn what the game requires.
The more you put your brain to work learning new rules, tricks, and techniques while attempting to master a game, the more you'll learn overall. After all, nothing makes a strong student better than learning continuously.
Reason #3: You'll Develop a Flexible Brain
Did you know that every time you turn on your gaming console, you're giving your brain a workout? Regular video game action helps your brain become more flexible and adaptable.StarCraft, which requires a significant amount of strategy and memory to play, made players faster and more accurate when completing tasks that required brain flexibility. Those who played The Sims, on the other hand, didn't hone their mental skills at all.
Those hours spent carefully developing strategies online are applicable to your everyday life. Playing StarCraft and other similar games increase your ability to make quick decisions and learn from mistakes. Remember, you can only master the splits if you stretch on a regular basis—your cognitive flexibility works the same way, so hop on your computer or gaming console and play for a while.
Reason #4: They'll Improve Your Reading Ability
If you're someone who's always disliked reading, video games might actually help you become more interested in books. Particularly helpful for those who have a hard time focusing their attention, spending some quality time gaming can get you focused.In a study conducted by a group of Italian researchers, children who played just 12 hours of action-based video games saw a huge improvement in their reading abilities. Out of all other game types, those featuring a heavy dose of action helped young, dyslexic readers better than an entire year of tutoring and training. The study's participants could read faster and paid better attention while doing so.
While you might not face the challenges of dyslexia, your brain will still benefit from an increase in focus. Video games train our brains' attention system with their quick bursts of action. While playing, we constantly shift our attention to various changes on the screen before us, responding to audio and visual cues.
Reason #5: You'll Be a Happier Person
Turning on your gaming console could provide relief from your bad mood better than talking out your feelings with a friend. Through the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), video games can help players retrain their brain and eliminate negative thinking.Playing a fantasy game helped teenagers beat their depression, according to a study conducted by a group of researchers from New Zealand. The researchers developed a video game that led players through a world in which they literally battled and destroyed their unhappy thoughts.
Video games have also been shown to improve the overall emotional well-being in senior, so it's important no matter what age you are.
Reason #6: They Improve Your Eyesight
Go ahead, stare at your TV screen all day: as long as you're playing action-based video games, you'll only improve your eyesight.Can't stand shooting bad guys while gaming? Don't worry, your vision will still become sharper and clearer. Gamers with 20/20 vision find their eyes improving with normal play of any game.
Reason #7: You'll Get More Done at Work
Tuning out distractions and getting down to work is easier if you enjoy what you're hearing in the background. Listening to the soundtrack of your favorite games while working will make you more productive, and, of course, make you a more pleasant employee.Reason #8: They Reduce Stress
You most likely already know how great it feels to express your rage in a Black Ops battle, but did you know that each round you play helps you relieve stress?A study by Texas A&M psychology professor Christopher Ferguson measured the effects of violent and non-violent video games on players. After completing a task designed to make them angry, the participants played either a non-violent game, violent game, or nothing at all. Those who gamed with violent video games were calmer and in better moods than those who didn't play.
According to Ferguson, letting your hostility out in a virtual world helps you manage your emotions in reality. When playing online, you're free to express all of the angry feelings you wish, without harming others.
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