Playing games for 30 minutes a day enhances memory

While some people think that gaming is just a waste of time, scientists discover that gaming can help increase the size of our brains.

>>>Game helps older people remember better

German researchers found that playing video games helped increase the size of the brain regions responsible for spatial orientation, memory formation and strategic planning and motor skills. They believe that video games can help in the treatment of mental disorders.

To understand how video games affect the brain, scientists from the Max Planck Human Development Institute and St. John's Medical University. Hedwig-Krankenhaus, asked adults to play Super Mario 64 for 30 minutes a day for 2 months. In addition, there is a group that does not play games. The researchers then measured the size of the brain using magnetic resonance scanning (MRI) technology.

They found that, compared to non-gamers, regular gamers have a gray area increase , which is where the cellular organs of brain neurons reside.

This growth occurs in the Hippocampus region (the structure inside the temporal lobe of the brain), the right prefrontal cortex and the cerebellum. These parts of the brain are involved in functions such as spatial navigation, memory formation, strategic planning and motor skills of the hand. Those are the most noticeable changes of the game participants.

"While previous studies have shown a difference in the brain structure of gamers, this study demonstrates a direct link between causality between playing games and increasing brain volume , " said the chief. The research team Simone Kühn, senior scientist at the Center for Longevity Psychology, of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, said.

"This shows that specific brain regions can be trained with video game games," she added. Dr. Kühn and colleagues believe that video games can be used to treat patients with mental disorders, areas of the brain that are altered, reduced in size as well as schizophrenia, post-stress disorder. Injury or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's dementia.

Psychiatrist Jürgen Gallinat, co-author of the study at Charité St Hedwig-Krankenhaus Medical University, also said: "Many patients will be more willing to accept video game therapy than other medical interventions. ".