Video games improve speed and decision making, study finds

Video games, which have long been criticized in the media, are now the subject of laudatory research on the subject. First of all, it was necessary to show that most of the prejudices they were exposed to were actually wrong. Thus, the researchers proved that, contrary to what has been repeated, the latter does not incite people to violence, but nevertheless has no effect on the schooling of children.

Today, a new study proves that video games have beneficial effects on decision making. Researchers from the University of Georgia analyzed the brains of 47 participants: 28 players and 19 non-players. They had to be placed in an MRI machine to perform a variety of tasks aimed at determining the functioning of their brains. The result is ambiguous: Players are generally quicker at making decisions.

Video game players make decisions faster

Thus, the researchers found that players were, on average, more precise in their responses, as well as completing tasks faster than their peers. “Decision-making tasks involve investigating video game effects, as video games often require rapid use of incoming sensory information and precise, repetitive decision making.”explain the scientists.

These results may lead to the use of video games especially during cognitive training. Thus, the researchers suggest using it on people who have not started using video games to evaluate its positive impact on decision making. “These findings begin to shed light on how video games alter the brain to improve task performance and their potential effects in increasing task-specific activity.”.

Source : Georgia State University