Benefits of Video Games to the Brain Essay

Many people have heard of the phrase "stop playing games and go play outside"; or "video games will make you stupid." This is due to the perception that video games are a waste of time and not as valuable as playing outdoors. Ever since video games came to limelight in the 1970s, they have been a source of entertainment for millions of people. Video games have steadily evolved over the years, in line with the ever dynamic technology, and promise to be even more superior in the future owing to technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality and wearable gaming among others. While the gaming craze seems unstoppable, parents have held mixed opinions about video games, with majority of them believing that they are not beneficial (Eugenio). This paper seeks to challenge this convention by taking a deep look into the benefits of video games to the brain.

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Video gaming has increased over the years to become one of the most significant sources of entertainment today. Gamers spend more than 3 billion hours per week playing on their screens. More than 150 million Americans play video games at least 3 hours every week and this figure is always growing owing to the increasing modes in which video games can be performed. More than 72% of gamers are below the age of 18 which implies that it is a favorite game for children and school going teens. Video game sales have been growing over the years, with more than 24.5 billion games sold in 2016 alone which was an increase from the 23.2 billion games sold the previous year (Nichols).

For over 30 years, the question of whether video games are harmful has been debated with no amicable solution. The debate has been characterized by fears that playing video games was addictive, might increase aggression and even problems such as obesity due to prolonged sitting. With a keen look, however, it is important to note that there are many benefits associated with playing these games (Gray). In additional to mind sharpness, memory, and educational performance, playing these games is therapeutic too.

Video games help in overall coordination and in ensuring that children exercise the mind. Physical exercise is associated with making the body strong and healthy. Cognitive video games, in the same context, allow one to exercise the brain. The gaming experience involves many aspects of the mind and ensures that it is in contact stimulation. Immersive games enable the brain to simulate different conditions such as anger, pain, joy, victory among others which ensures that it remains positively functional. During the process of playing, the adult or child is not only staring at the monitor, but they are fully engaged which implies maximum brain stimulation (Granic, Isabela, Lobel & Engels). Video games do not involve the eyes alone, but the entire visual, audio and physical movements which are beneficial to the brain.

Another way that video games are beneficial to the brain is that they have been associated with improved classroom competence. Playing these games improves the players' ability to reason while navigating the games. As the players have to think and act quickly to avoid losing, it can be stated that they improve the overall reasoning and memory perception. These cognitive development have a profound impact on the academic performance and ability. A 2015 study conducted by the Programme for International Student Assessment found that teenagers who played video games performed better in class than their counterparts who didn't (Eleftheriou-Smith). This can be associated with improved cognitive and memory levels which makes tackling classroom problems easy for them. While the general opinion was that children should spend more time studying, adding a component of gaming can improve their mental abilities to understand and retain what they have studies, which implies a higher likelihood to pass examinations. Video games are interactive and often can hold learners' undivided attention for a longer time. As they are enriched to be as appealing as possible, they can provide an excellent alternative learning environments to the traditional learning methods. Most games today are educational, and learners derive a lot of knowledge from them. As they are highly interactive, the games can be used to simulate learning in the classroom environment which can also improve academic outcomes as the learners learn in a fun and enjoyable environment. Active video game players enjoy greater attention spans on all levels (Granic, Isabela, Lobel & Engels). These games ensure that the participants have sustained attention as well as selective attention.

In addition to general coordination, video games improve problem-solving skills of the players. The games offer the players with situations to think outside the box and find solutions to critical puzzles hence facilitates the development of a sharp brain. Strategic video games such as role-playing games enable the learners to understand the significance of their moves, the need to plan and how to find their way around problems. In this way, the brain is trained in the principles of problem-solving, which can be translated into real-life situations. Children learn how to be creative by playing (Eugenio). Children sharpen the way they handle issues and problem which means that they can be better in their social interactions and relations. Children have to learn how to confront and manage difficulties at an early age and games provide an essential avenue for simulating such scenarios, and allowing the children to manage them and learn from them. It is noteworthy appreciating that gaming involves working within set rules and making split-second judgments on how to maneuver. These simple decisions decide whether one advances to the next level or fail. These skills enable children to learn how to make decisions in the shortest time while being strategic and acknowledging that the consequences or outcomes are dependent on their actions.

Still on problem-solving, video games teaches the brain to be persistent even in the face of failure. They train on the need to adjust strategies if one is not working properly. The ability to learn from failure and forge ahead builds up positive reinforcement which is essential in many other situations in life. Deep practice, which entails repeating a given set of circumstances many times enables the brain to be persistent and to always try many times without giving up. At the same time, owing to their immersive nature, video games enhances the brain's ability to focus on one task or problem until the end. Indeed some games often demand hours of focus and concentration and this trains the brain to do the same in other situations (Granic, Isabela, Lobel & Engels). It is possible that such children rarely suffer from attention problem in class or elsewhere because their brain has learned to remain so for hours. This capability is critical to problem-solving because the individuals can work on a given problem for more extended periods of time until they find a resolution.

Video games also teach the brain the concepts of risk and the need always to make attempts. As they allow the players to try different routes and strategies towards realizing a given task, the trial and error approach that most games provide is useful as it helps the players to cultivate confidence. Confidence is critical as the children learn to appreciate the need not to avoid problems because they are perceived to be hard to be solved, but always to attempt to address them, even taking risks. The games affirm the fact that solutions to problems are often not visible and there is no harm in making attempts to address them. In the end, the games cultivate positivity when they conclude with a sense of accomplishment (Granic, Isabela, Lobel & Engels). In this regard, it can be noted that the games are good for teaching the players how to be consistent, and how and when to give up. Overly, one essence of video games is that they cultivate the brain to understand that there are always a variety of solutions to a given problem.

Owing to the intensity of the games and the need to remain focused, it can be argued that video games improve the brain's speed. Playing video games, especially those that are action-packed, requires robust and fast processing. It involves fast processing of sensory information and prompt actions by the players. The players have to make quick decisions and also execute responses at a pace that is greater than what the brain is accustomed to on a day-to-day basis. The players understand that any delays during play could have devastating outcomes such as lose hence the need for speed in execution (Dye, Green & Bavelier). In all these actions, the brain learns how to process information quickly and come up with solutions to problems as quick as possible. These games, therefore, improve the speed with which the brain perceives information, analyzes the information, organizes it, and also how it acts on the same information. There is improved reaction time. In this regard, playing video games can result in faster and accurate completion of tasks and assignments as the brain increasingly become accustomed to fast executions (Kulman).

Video games allow the brain to be creative and are a critical source of entertainment and relaxation. These games will enable the mind to rest and reset creatively. In the case where the players have spent the day at school or on other tasks, and they are tired, they can immerse themselves in these games which allows the brain to think of newer problems and make connections. This disconnection from the day-long challenges such as difficulties at school is forgotten for some time. In the same context, playing video games during breaks from handling critical problems can result in boosted creativity which might enable the resolution of hitherto hard issues in a fast way. This is because video games teach the brain to be more flexible during the process. In addition to that, playing simple video games makes the players be happy and in the generally good mood. This is because these games are exciting and end up relaxing the players. This also implies that the games can ward off bouts of anxiety or stress and make the players happier.

Despite the fear by most parents that video gaming is often lonesome and that children need to go out and play to sharpen their social skills, it can be argued that video games involve a lot of interaction between players hence play a critical role in honing communication and social skills. Constant communication and cooperation between players both in the physical and online enable them to develop meaningful and positive friendships and relationships, just like physical games. They can be an avenue where individuals meet people with similar interests and can forge lifelong friendships. A study by Columbia University's Mailman School found that young children who played video games were better both intellectually and socially as compared to those that didn't (Kovess-Masfety & Viviane et al.). In addition to having optimum school competence, the study found that such teams easily forged beneficial peer relationships. It is essential to appreciate that video games are mostly collaborative activities hence children who enjoy participating in them develop the ability to establish excellent social capabilities.

Conclusion

To add to that, gaming today is interactive, and the narrative of a lone, nerdy gamer is no longer the case. War of Warcraft, a multiplayer virtual game allows individuals to connect and play against each other. Today, the game has sold over 14 million copies which increases the number of people one can connect with. By 2013, Farmville, one of the most popular social simulation games today had ov...