There is a stigma that comes with kids playing video games that all they are doing is turning their brains into mush. And while there are some video games that are better for the brain than others, the brain is incredibly active regardless of what is being played. As such, there are both positives and negatives that come with kids playing video games. Just what is happening to children's brains when they play video games can vary depending on the games being played.
The reason that kids play video games is that they are fun, according to Learning Works For Kids. They not only challenge kids, but they also provide them with immediate rewards when a goal has been attained. As such, it is no wonder that kids return to the screen again and again to either move forward in a game or to try to better their scores from a previous gaming session. The real question is, is whether there are any long-term consequences for the brain for all the gaming fun being had.
Here is what happens to a child's brain when playing video games.
Brain Releases Dopamine
When video games are played, the brain translates what is being seen on the screen as something happening in real life, according to Mayo Clinic Health System. As a result, when the attention is being held by what is on the screen and people find the video game they are playing interesting, dopamine is released, per the publication. And the more engrossed children become in video games, the more dopamine is released.
According to WebMD, dopamine is a neurotransmitter. It is what helps people find an interest in activities and hold that interest.
Because more dopamine is released the further kids get into a video game, the more often they need to play the game, according to Mayo Clinic Health System. If this is not regulated by parents, a strong desire to play video games can become a full-blown obsession or addiction. That is something that will alter moods in kids if they do not get their daily dose of video gaming dopamine.
Video Games Can Increase IQ
While it may mean spending more time in front of a screen, kids who play video games consistently may increase their IQ. Something that may benefit kids over time when it comes to academics and their understanding of concepts.
According to a recent study, most kids who play video games spend an average of one hour per day doing so. If those same kids increase their daily gaming to more than "average," they will see a 2.5 IQ point increase over the course of just a few years.
While the study did not look at what happens physically or socially to those who play video games more often, it did show that "cognitive abilities" were positively affected. That is something that many parents did not expect from their video gaming kids.
Memory Increases When Playing Video Games
When kids play video games, the cognitive portion of their brain is affected long-term. But, not necessarily in a bad way. This is because, according to MedicalNewsToday, gaming can increase memory and the ability to recall facts as an adult for those who played video games as a kid. Something that those who did not play video games as a kid can claim.
Per the publication, adults who played video games as a child had a better working memory. As such, they could better recall events and "manipulate information" for both long-term and short-term memory. This occurred even if video games were no longer played past adolescence.
As such, the more the cognitive portion of the brain is strengthened by video games during childhood, the fewer memory problems adults may have in the future.
Video Games Make The Brain More Adept At Multi-Tasking
As gray matter increases in the brain, its ability to multitask increases as well. As such, the more gaming is done to increase the cognitive area of the brain, the more multitasking can be done. This is in both the gaming world and in life as well.
According to NPR, the area of the brain that controls multitasking is the fontal cortex. This is the area of the brain that is used by gamers to play their chosen games. As a result, the fontal cortex becomes stronger. It becomes the area where multitasking occurs for those who play. Something that is in contrast to those who do not game, per the publication.
This is because non-gamers use the parietal cortex of their brains. An area where it takes longer to process information, making multitasking possible but slower in action than those who play video games.
Brain Activity Increases In Some Regions While Decreasing In Others
Playing video games has been proven to increase brain activity in some regions of the brain. But, when this happens, other areas of the brain have decreased activity. Something that may cause problems if left unregulated.
According to BrainFacts.org, when kids play violent video games, the activity in the prefrontal portions of the brain increases in just 10 to 20 minutes of playing. This is the area that controls everything from "arousal, anxiety, and emotional reaction," per the publication.
While this is happening, the frontal lobe activity is decreased, according to BrainFacts.org. And when this happens, the ability to regulate emotions and control is decreased. And when this often happens, there is the risk of becoming addicted to video games. Something that needs to be researched further to determine if video games are helping or hindering those who play them.
Source: Learning Works For Kids, Mayo Clinic Health System, WebMD, ScienceDaily, MedicalNewsToday, NPR, BrainFacts.og