The Cognitive Benefits of Playing Games
The Cognitive Benefits of Playing Games
The Cognitive Benefits of Playing Games
Playing games is no longer a waste of time! Studies show that video games and board games help develop a range of cognitive abilities in children and adults that might not occur otherwise. So what are the cognitive abilities we can expect to enhance by playing games?
Improved spatial awareness
Genetic and environmental factors influence someone’s spatial awareness. Some people will have naturally excellent spatial awareness skills from early childhood, while others will have poor spatial awareness right into old age. But spatial awareness can also be improved.
Sports are encouraged in schools for health benefits, but sports are also excellent for improving spatial awareness abilities that are useful in other walks of life. Like sports, 3D virtual environments are excellent for challenging and improving players’ spatial awareness abilities.
Improved reaction times
Good reaction times are important when operating in the world day-to-day. For example, we need to react to traffic on the roads, other people in the local shopping mall, and unexpected events or sudden movements. But, we don’t always have a chance to practice reaction times.
If you want to sharpen your reaction times, then play action video games that train your brain to look out for sudden unexpected movements. Although these games are fun to play, they have a real-world benefit; the more you play them, the better your everyday reactions will become.
Improved mental flexibility
For years, video games and role-playing games were seen as entertainment at best and a waste of time at worst. Nowadays, it’s clear that playing games of all kinds, including the who dunnit game online, is an excellent way to increase your mental flexibility and mental agility.
When you play first-person shooter games, you switch rapidly between tasks while carrying out missions; all of your attention is engaged in the situation training your brain to pay attention. Similarly, online games challenge your brain to think creatively and problem solve.
Better visual processing
Do you have a friend who plays video games a lot? Perhaps you dismiss this as a waste of time and prefer to focus on real-world pursuits like finding a well-paying job or upskilling yourself to improve your career prospects. But consider the improved cognitive abilities of your friend.
Your friend will have better visual processing abilities than you if they play many action games on the computer; that’s because their brain constantly has to contend with enhanced visual stimuli. The ability to identify information and block out distractions is useful in most industries.
Better multitasking
Multitasking is a skill that can be learned and enhanced. Although some people swear by the one thing at a time philosophy, there’s no doubt that effective multitasking is a sought-after skill in this day and age. Enhance your cognitive abilities with games that improve multitasking.
Games that improve multitasking include action games and first-person shooters. However, card games and online games are also useful for helping you to retain relevant information while making actionable moves on the board or screen. So, improve multi-tasking quickly by gaming.