Video games can be a good way to strengthen the brain

Not only do video games not corrupt our brains, they may improve cognitive ability and even rejuvenate the brain. But the important thing is the way we play, which determines the benefits of gaming.

According to Aaron Seitz, professor of psychology and director of Northeastern University’s Mind Games Center for Fitness and Mental Health, about the mental effect of video games, “Unlike traditional mind games, which are usually as simple as possible, people practice complex skills in simulated environments by playing video games.”

According to studies, in some situations, playing video games can help slow down the aging process of the brain. According to “C. According to other research, playing action video games may be particularly beneficial for a wide range of skills, such as our attention to visual information and our ability to learn. “Whereas most brain training games or exercises only help improve a smaller set of skills that are directly related to the same exercise.”

However, experts warn not to overdo it! Among other things, Carlos Coronel, a researcher at Trinity College Dublin and Adolfo Ibáñez University in Santiago, Chile, points out: “I can’t say that playing video games for many hours will be beneficial for your brain health. But you have to find a balance.”

New games may help the brain

Cognitive engagement, including through education, crossword puzzles, brain training and socializing, is beneficial for brain health, and evidence suggests that video games can be added to the list.

In a 2024 study published in the journal NeuroImage, researchers scanned the brain connectivity of 31 people who played a lot of StarCraft II. A strategy game that requires players to manage resources and maneuver large armies in real-time. “Compared to 31 people who didn’t play the game, Starcraft players’ brains appeared to be more efficient at processing information, and there was more connectivity in brain areas essential for visual attention and executive function,” said Cornell, lead author of the study.

Also, in a 2025 study published in Nature Communications, Cornell and colleagues found that, similar to other creative activities, including music and art, greater expertise in video games was associated with slower brain aging, to the point where the brains of experienced gamers looked about four years younger. According to Coronel, creative pastimes, including video games, may help protect neural connections that are vulnerable to aging and improve the brain’s ability to transmit and process information.

But in these studies, even playing relatively little had benefits. When they looked at 24 non-gamers who spent just 30 hours playing StarCraft 2 over three to four weeks, they found that their brains aged less than those who played a slower, more regular game called Hearthstone. According to this research, the more you practice, the more you will benefit, but even without being an expert, you can enjoy the benefits of gaming.

Action video games accelerate learning

To improve cognitive skills, we need to challenge or cognitively load the mind. However, according to Green, what counts as “cognitive load” varies from person to person. Many brain training games and other stimulating activities fall victim to what researchers call the “curse of specificity”! That is, they teach a type of specialized skills that are not applicable to other cognitive fields.

For example, in a classic study, researchers found that experienced chess players could remember up to four times more chess pieces than a beginner if the pieces were arranged like a real game. But if these pieces are randomly placed, the memory advantage of experienced players is erased and they perform as poorly as beginners.

Action game has more effect on the brain.
Credit: Futura

One particular genre of video games may be an interesting exception, though the research is by no means conclusive. Action video games, primarily first-person and third-person shooters, require players to make quick decisions in often chaotic visual environments. According to research, this training seems to work. Action gamers have better vision, perform better on immersive tasks, and have better control over their visual attention. According to the researchers, this better attention may also help us learn the learning process better.

In a paper published in Communications Biology, 52 non-gaming adult participants played either an action video game or a slower simulation game for 45 hours over three months. Then, in two cognitive tests for visual perception and working memory beyond games, action gamers learned faster and improved faster.

“Because you’re in the right place at the right time, you suppress the right information, pull out more information on each trial, and therefore learn much faster,” Green said.

However, other experts are cautious in interpreting these findings because some psychological measures require participants to respond to rapid visual stimuli, often for a fraction of a second at a time. According to Seitz, “this may not generalize to some other skills that have slower stimuli.”

So there isn’t enough data yet to draw strong conclusions about which game functions work best for different people with different needs.

The effect of video games to improve cognitive ability

To play video games, the type of game is important and one should be aware of its effective way. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the following.

Do not play too much

Instead of pathological play, you should seek passionate interaction. “Gaming Disorder” is recognized by the World Health Organization, so like any behavioral addiction, the difference leads to harm. You should see if you are harming your life with gaming. Try different things in moderation. In particular, most of the studies looked at action video games that had short sessions of 30 minutes or one hour.

Try new games

A researcher is trying to get her parents, who are in their 70s, to play new online games. Although, according to Green, “they get a little annoyed and say I was just getting good at it, but once you start getting good, it’s not helpful anymore. You have to do challenging and difficult tasks. “I think it keeps cognitive systems in a strong position in general.”

Some popular action games include the Call of Duty series, the Halo series, and Quick. But less gory options include games like Fortnite, Overwatch, and the Splatoon series, which involve squids shooting each other with ink.

Gaming is effective in strengthening the brain of the elderly.
Credit: Rolf Vennenbernd/Picture Alliance/Getty

Measure what works

Try a few different things and see if your performance improves. Have realistic expectations According to Seitz, “We don’t really know what works for whom, but many things can. So trying a combination of them is worth doing.”

Balance it with other aspects of life

No single trick or behavior can do wonders for improving cognitive ability or any other aspect of health. Rather, as Coronel pointed out: “You have to have multiple layers in your life. One layer can be creative activities, but physical activity, sleep and socializing can also be involved. A healthy brain should include all of them.”

Source: Washington Post