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Posted By: Bostonian When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 03:18 PM
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203458604577263273943183932.html
When Gaming Is Good for You
By ROBERT LEE HOTZ
Wall Street Journal
March 5, 2012

Videogames can change a person's brain and, as researchers are finding, often that change is for the better.

A growing body of university research suggests that gaming improves creativity, decision-making and perception. The specific benefits are wide ranging, from improved hand-eye coordination in surgeons to vision changes that boost night driving ability.

People who played action-based video and computer games made decisions 25% faster than others without sacrificing accuracy, according to a study. Indeed, the most adept gamers can make choices and act on them up to six times a second—four times faster than most people, other researchers found. Moreover, practiced game players can pay attention to more than six things at once without getting confused, compared with the four that someone can normally keep in mind, said University of Rochester researchers. The studies were conducted independently of the companies that sell video and computer games.

Scientists also found that women—who make up about 42% of computer and videogame players—were better able to mentally manipulate 3D objects, a skill at which men are generally more adept. Most studies looked at adults rather than children.

Electronic gameplay has its downside. Brain scans show that violent videogames can alter brain function in healthy young men after just a week of play, depressing activity among regions associated with emotional control, researchers at Indiana University recently reported. Other studies have found an association between compulsive gaming and being overweight, introverted and prone to depression. The studies didn't compare the benefits of gaming with such downsides.

The violent action games that often worry parents most had the strongest beneficial effect on the brain. "These are not the games you would think are mind-enhancing," said cognitive neuroscientist Daphne Bavelier, who studies the effect of action games at Switzerland's University of Geneva and the University of Rochester in New York.

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There is probably a point at which too much time spent on video games detracts from academics, fitness, and friendships, but this article may cause me to tolerate more game playing than I did before.

What makes a game worthwhile? Video games are seen as something that needs to be regulated, but chess has a pretty good reputation with parents of gifted children, as evidenced by the number of threads about it here.
Posted By: JonLaw Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 03:34 PM
Originally Posted by Bostonian
There is probably a point at which too much time spent on video games detracts from academics, fitness, and friendships, but this article may cause me to tolerate more game playing than I did before.

I'm still trying to dig out of the gaping hole that computer games left in my life from about age 14 through age 26, so I'm inclined to err on the side of "shut that game off, now" with my kids.

I think I gained most of the negatives mentioned here.
Posted By: Dude Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 04:00 PM
The key word on the downside risks discussion is "compulsive." Too much of anything is a bad thing.

I was already convinced I had gained some upside cognitive abilities through gaming, and have encouraged my DD to play for the same, so it's good to see research confirming what I already knew.
Posted By: DAD22 Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 04:08 PM
It's hard to imagine these first person shooters are better for faster thinking than a good racing game or speedy puzzle game. Super puzzle fighter 2 turbo, anyone?
Posted By: JonLaw Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 04:12 PM
Originally Posted by Dude
The key word on the downside risks discussion is "compulsive." Too much of anything is a bad thing.

It's more of a problem of self-regulation than anything else.

Ideally, you want to make sure that your kids understand self-regulation before they go to college and they aren't transitioned from an zero responsibility environment to a total freedom environment where they can play computer games 24 hours a day and not attend class or do much of anything.
Posted By: Dude Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 04:41 PM
Originally Posted by DAD22
It's hard to imagine these first person shooters are better for faster thinking than a good racing game or speedy puzzle game. Super puzzle fighter 2 turbo, anyone?

I'm thinking that "the violent games that often worry parents most" is a code-phrase for the Grand Theft Auto franchise, which is not, strictly speaking, an FPS.

And the difference between a GTA game and a racing game is one has you racing around on a track, and the other has you racing around in a city, navigating traffic and obstacles while being shot at by helicopters. One has the objective of "go fast" while the other has the objective of "go fast while avoiding committing other crimes that will escalate the law enforcement response even further, and while navigating to a spray-paint shop which you may or may not have already located on the map in advance."

So for the purposes of this comparison, GTA equals more challenges, more objects and objectives to keep track of, more decisions to be made, and therefore, more cognitive benefit.

My DD plays a game inspired by GTA called "The Simpsons - Hit and Run," which incorporates a lot of the best elements of GTA but reduces the violence to a cartoon level and subtracts the gunplay. I've showed the game to a number of nieces and nephews, and I've yet to find a kid that doesn't love it.
Posted By: ABQMom Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 05:05 PM
I can believe the study. The team-leading, interactive play of point and shoot games online definitely build decision-making skills.

I also believe JonLaw. The downside for some personality is also very real.
Posted By: JonLaw Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 05:19 PM
Originally Posted by ABQMom
How in the *&^^%% did you finally learn self-regulation? I've found with my older son, he is dealing with the same issues now that he's in college. When he was a minor living at home, I could do a lot of mom-regulation. He was also part of a tight-knit sports team that provided a lot of regulation to his time. But now that he's in college, I'm seeing him starting to founder in time management and am wondering what, if anything, I can do to help him not dig a pit he can't get out of easily.

I don't think my experience is particularly helpful here, since what finally solved my over-gaming was getting married and practicing law full time in a corporate law office.

Plus, I finally got sick of computer games.

In college, I had enough self-regulation to keep my scholarship, because the alternative was to pay for college myself through loans and/or work, neither of which was appealing. Although most of that was the fact that theoretical science is extremely easy for me.
Posted By: Dude Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 05:30 PM
ABQMom: In my case, self-regulation was a necessity, because rather than college I was enlisted in the Navy. If I abused video games to the point where my test scores were below 75%, I'd have been kicked out of school and sent to the fleet to chip and paint. So there's probably not a lot for you to learn there that can be applied to your son.

After my enlistment I had a girlfriend move in, she raised a stink about how much time I spent playing games, and it became something where I'd better learn how to regulate it or I wouldn't have the girlfriend anymore. Again... not a lot to learn there.

Except, I suppose, that the key to learning self-regulation in both cases is to find other things you care about enough to set aside the games when necessary. I've said elsewhere that my DD7 doesn't abuse video games, playing less than an hour when she does sit down to them, and that's primarily because, given the choice, she'd much rather go play with her toys. So there's that theme again.

One thing that doesn't help is that these games can be very hard to put down because the next goal is always so tantalizingly close, which lends itself to an unending string of excuses... "let me just beat this bad guy first... let me just visit this shop real quick... let me just see what this next mission is..."

And the solution to that is to regiment it a bit. For example, your DS could come to his dorm and reward himself for surviving another day of classes with an hour of game play... ONLY an hour, and stick to it. Then it's time to hit the books, do the laundry, pick up some grub, etc. If he finishes with everything early... REWARD! More playing time.

Hope any of this helps.
Posted By: Bostonian Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 05:43 PM
Originally Posted by ABQMom
I really don't know how to help him. I've gotten him in to see a therapist, but there isn't one in the area that has any real understanding of dealing with high gifted traits, so it doesn't seem to be helping a lot.

If you are paying for his college and he is not working hard enough, stop paying.
Posted By: JonLaw Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 05:49 PM
Originally Posted by Dude
Except, I suppose, that the key to learning self-regulation in both cases is to find other things you care about enough to set aside the games when necessary. I've said elsewhere that my DD7 doesn't abuse video games, playing less than an hour when she does sit down to them, and that's primarily because, given the choice, she'd much rather go play with her toys. So there's that theme again.

As an additional note, I didn't actually care about college or really want to be in college.

I honestly had no idea what to go do with myself once I got there, I just knew that I had to go there and I had collected enough scholarships to generate a financial profit my first year.

It didn't help that I had absolutely no interest in engineering, which is what my parents decided I should pursue for scholarship purposes. So, I spent five years studying something I actually didn't care about and had no interest in doing as a career. But, it was free and I was expected to be there.

I was bullied there, too, which didn't help anything, but made the entire experience feel more like being in prison. I was really too emotionally immature to be there. That was certainly part of my issue.

So, I agree that it's important to find something you care about more than computer games.
Posted By: Lori H. Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 06:18 PM
With my son, I have only noticed the positive benefits that were mentioned. He didn't have behavior problems, he did not seem addicted to the games except possibly the first day or two after he gets a really good game. He goes through games quickly and since we use Gamefly he can afford to do this. I think playing lots of different kinds of games is good for the brain. He often tells me about things he learned (history, geography, culture, kinds of things) through video games he played. I think it might even help him make decisions on online multiple choice tests. When I watch him take online tests I notice he can read faster and get the answer before I have finished reading all the choices. He flies through online multiple choice questions as if he is playing a game and he will get a higher score if he finishes fast, even though there is no bonus for finishing quickly. I think tests are something he sees as a game. I think he gamifies things as much as he can.

When he wakes up in the morning, instead of wanting to play games, before he even gets out of bed, he reads the news on his iPhone and then reads things that are humorous that he shares with me and his adult sister. He always has interesting things to talk about and he still laughs and makes jokes.

He would rather go out and do things but unfortunately he can't because of where we live and because he has to wear a brace that limits his activities.

Posted By: DAD22 Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 06:58 PM
Originally Posted by Dude
I'm thinking that "the violent games that often worry parents most" is a code-phrase for the Grand Theft Auto franchise, which is not, strictly speaking, an FPS.

And the difference between a GTA game and a racing game is one has you racing around on a track, and the other has you racing around in a city, navigating traffic and obstacles while being shot at by helicopters. One has the objective of "go fast" while the other has the objective of "go fast while avoiding committing other crimes that will escalate the law enforcement response even further, and while navigating to a spray-paint shop which you may or may not have already located on the map in advance."

So for the purposes of this comparison, GTA equals more challenges, more objects and objectives to keep track of, more decisions to be made, and therefore, more cognitive benefit.

It seems to me that GTA games don't offer the challenge of perfection. With a racing game, you may be inclined to achieve the fastest possible time on a track with a given vehicle, and "go fast" actually implies the following: modulate the throttle or brake perfectly at every given moment for the duration of the race. Be in the right gear at all times (dependent on speed and engine power curves). Follow the ideal line, setting up for the entrance to every new turn when exiting the previous. Maintain the maximum amount of speed over elevation changes while keeping the suspension loaded in order to maintain control (unless the it's OK to take air, in which case you still have to take the "right" amount of air). When you seek perfection, you are forced to consider a number of subtleties that you can otherwise ignore. I think a good racer is constantly considering things that are probably not even included in the physics model of games like GTA. In short, I think racing is as complicated as the driver (gamer) wants it to be. For you it may be simple, probably because your interests lie elsewhere.

Additionally, you can race online against other people to add an unpredictable element to your experience.
Posted By: JonLaw Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 07:49 PM
Originally Posted by Bostonian
Originally Posted by ABQMom
I really don't know how to help him. I've gotten him in to see a therapist, but there isn't one in the area that has any real understanding of dealing with high gifted traits, so it doesn't seem to be helping a lot.

If you are paying for his college and he is not working hard enough, stop paying.

Reality is going to intrude on his life at some point, so Bostonian's advice is something to consider.
Posted By: ABQMom Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/07/12 10:35 PM
I guess I was just hoping for a magic bullet. And, alas, as usual, there is none. He'll either find the fortitude within or he won't. And then he'll live with the consequences either way.
Posted By: passthepotatoes Re: When Gaming Is Good for You - 03/08/12 12:38 AM
Another recent study may be of interest: http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/ppm-1-1-62.pdf

The researchers found that, over three years, those who spent more time playing video games subsequently had more attention problems, even after controlling for earlier attention problems, age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status. Although violent content impacted attention problems and impulsiveness, the total time spent playing games was a more robust predictor. Individuals with attention problems or who were more impulsive spent more time playing video games, even after controlling for initial video game playing.

"These findings provide evidence for bidirectional causality: children with greater impulsiveness and attention problems spend more time playing video games, which in turn increases subsequent attention problems and impulsiveness. This finding does not alter the cause for concern about the potential for video games to contribute to the development of attention problems," the authors write....

As with all nature–nurture questions, the answer
ultimately is that both matter. For the
past 30 years, most of the research on attention
problems has focused on biological and genetic
factors rather than on environmental factors.
This allowed for rapid advances in drug therapies,
but has also caused many researchers and
members of the general public to assume that
impulsivity and attention problems were not
modifiable by experience. This is unfortunate,
as it means we have only focused on part of the
solution. Furthermore, many problems with genetic
bases are clearly enhanced by environmental
triggers. By understanding some of the
environmental influences, we can develop more
effective solutions for children and parents.
More research is clearly needed on the environmental
factors, especially factors that are easily
modified by parents, such as screen time.
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