04 July 2005

Good News for Video Gamers

Are you a constant player of video games like Grand Theft Auto and Super Mario? Here is great news you can show your mom and dad:
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Video game players may spend a lot of time on the couch, but when they're ready to go out they can find their keys quicker than the rest of us, a study suggests.

Researchers found that gamers who devote much of their free time to Grand Theft Auto and Super Mario may be able to scan their environment and spot the target of their search more quickly than non-gamers can.

In experiments with college students who were either hard-core video game players or novices, the researchers found that players were quicker to detect target objects on a busy computer screen than their peers were.

The findings, published in the journal Acta Psychologica, suggest that the vigilant watchfulness video games require makes for quicker visual processing.

[Reuters Health, Jul 1 2005]

So kids, the next your parents tell you that you'll get nothing playing those video games, you can always show them this report and study.

But to be on the safe side, don't overdo it. Play video games in moderation, and always devote more time studying for school.

8 reactions:

Toni said...

This is so true. I can relate. Hahaha! But I better not show this to H! It's a great excuse to spend longer hours on his PS2! Hehehe.

Anonymous said...

Well in addition to improving my hand and eye coordination; playing GTA made running over homeless people a past time. THAT in addition to going on gun rampages and jacking cars. hehe, seriously though, it's good to know that I at least have something good coming out of all the hours I wasted playing vidgames.


Cheers.

Dr. Emer said...

Toni: Show it to him. It'll make him play some more. :)

Mikey: Hello there. You got that right. All those years of playing can improve our visual acuity, huh? :)

Jotakken said...

Surgeons are really good with video games...I heard. It's all in the fingers.

rolly said...

So, there's something good that comes out of playing those games after all,huh? But my kids are still not playing that much time on weekdays, hah!

Dr. Emer said...

Kuiipo: ...also the eyes, I hasten to add. ;)

Tito Rolly: Well, better let them. They might help you find lost stuff some day. ;)

Dr. Emer said...

Angelbeam, ah, I have no idea if it can help with your epidural woes, ok? The benefit has something to do with improving visual acuity. There was no mention about memory enhancement at all. Take care and get well soon, ok?

BabyPink said...

wow! talaga ha. naku, sayang at never akong nahilig sa computer games. no wonder... hehehe:)