Experts say that in the long term, in many cases, videogames can reduce anxiety and stress, can restore motor skills (for those with mobility problems) and improve vision, but not only. Parents always tried to keep their children away from videogames, on the grounds that it’s a waste of time and it spoils their vision but recent research in this area suggest that there are some benefits.
Here are some of these surprising benefits of video games on children’s health and, why not, adult health:
Therapeutic effect for children with chronic diseases
Children diagnosed with serious illnesses such as autism, depression or even Parkinson’s disease, the last two being generally specific to old age, may show signs of improvement in symptoms if they are playing computer games, shows a research conducted at the University of Utah.
Also, video games can give the feeling of power, endurance and fighting spirit, the essential elements that we need to survive in extreme situations and with limited resources to get through the trials of life.
Preschoolers develop better motor skills
It seems unlikely that this is the most efficient way to teach children to be more active, but if they are playing interactive games specific to their age, this may help them to have a better control over motor skills, Australian researchers believe.
Videogames reduce stress and depression
A study on subjects suffering from stress and depression revealed that they were better at expressing their frustration and aggression when playing video games and they recorded a general improvement in their condition.
Pain relieve
Besides the fact that it can provide psychological comfort, video games can also have an effect on physical pain. This is possible, experts say, by distracting attention from their problems when they play a videogame. There is hard evidence of a real benefit: a group of soldiers that played “Snow World”, a game that involves throwing snowballs at various targets, have taken fewer pain medication during recovery – the scientists put this on account of the videogame.
Better vision and keeping the brain “connected”
A 2010 study has destroyed the myth that watching TV can strain our eyes. Specialists from the University of Rochester found that people suffering from cataract can improve their vision by playing action games involving the target shooting in motion or similar videogames.
Players sharpen their vision by identifying small details and recognizing shades of gray, and, in the long-term, certain videogames can help with a sharper vision, more attention to detail and a better perception.
Also, during the play, large amounts of dopamine and adrenaline are released, hormones that put our brain on alert, making us more alert and focused and prepare us for a better hand-eye coordination.
Maintain a healthy heart
It’s true! Most computer games do not require intense physical effort, but there are also the latest games, which, through a new generation of consoles require physical movement. Wii Fit games are among the best such games, have the approval of the American Heart Association and have the ability to put all the muscles in motion, thus preventing weight gain and hardening of the arteries, the main risk factors for heart disease.
Videogames improve decision-making skills
Many videogames require rapid and almost instant decision making that can mean the difference between virtual life and death. Neuroscientists at the University of Rochester, New York have found that these games give players the opportunity to train their brain for the decision making in the real world.
Researchers suggest that action games function as the simulator for making decisions, giving players more chances to manage information in their environment and forcing them to react accordingly.
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