Video games are, of course, very popular among children and adults. In response to their growing popularity, scientists have begun to voice their concerns, assumptions, and hypotheses.

The most popular of these are statements that video games provoke violence and aggressive behaviour, cause addiction similar to drug addiction, and can also make a person dumb and/or smart. The truth, as always, is somewhere in between.

Can video games make you smarter? Let’s find it out and also briefly explain other important concerns about video games.

Video Games Effects on Your Brain and Cognitive Abilities

Most researchers agree that video games can actually make you smarter. However, there is one important note – this is true only within reasonable limits. That is, if you devote all of your time to video games, then your improved cognitive abilities, memory, and reaction will not find other use.

Thus, this benefit is questionable. But if you devote a limited amount of time to dynamic, strategic, and rather complex video games, then you can expect the following positive changes.

• Improved memory. Playing video games, players need to remember the location of the enemy, the features of his strategy, reveal secrets and mysteries. Thus, the brain is constantly in the process of processing and assimilating new information, enhancing the capabilities of human memory.
• Faster reaction speed. Players who play dynamic games based on competition between players or the system develop faster reaction times since such games are mainly based on correct strategic moves.
• The ability to make better decisions. This is a logical consequence of the previous point. In order to win the game, the player needs not only to react quickly but to react quickly while making the right decision.
• Development of predictive abilities. If this is a team video game, then the ability to correctly predict the actions of the enemy and develop a response strategy becomes the key to successful progress from level to level, preserving your resources and increasing them.
• Improved concentration. Video games create an immersive atmosphere. That is, when a player is involved in a video game, he automatically disconnects his brain from any external influences from the offline space. This is an extremely useful ability that promotes faster engagement in other tasks and less procrastination.

Here is the opinion of the Best Writers Online and Online Writers Rating creative teams, who are dealing with academic papers writing.

“We are engaged in creative, intellectual, and research work at the same time. Many of our team members love to play video games after the end of the day. But for them, this is not a way to relax. For them, this is a way to give the brain a different kind of work and immerse themselves in a different atmosphere. We believe video games in reasonable dosages are beneficial for improving memory, concentration, and encouraging non-standard thinking.”

However, are there downsides to the point? Many researchers are trying to prove the negative consequences of video games, answering the most popular questions in society – can video games make you aggressive, stupid, and addicted. Let’s answer them one by one.

Can Video Games Make You Aggressive?

This is one of the biggest concerns of researchers and society at large. However, Psychology Today argues that researchers are mainly focusing on the negative effects of video games, forgetting the positive ones that we described above. However, a study of the level of aggressiveness, mood swings, and the potential for violent tendencies that develop after prolonged exposure to violent, actionable video games was conducted.

In this study, the researchers found that the subjects did not show significant changes. Two groups of players played GTA and Sims for two months, and the results of the study of the two groups showed no jump in the level of aggression. Based on this research, it is possible to argue that video games, even violent ones, do not increase the level of aggressiveness.

However, there is an important point – this study was conducted on adult groups of participants. The study of the impact of video games on the child’s psyche has not been conducted in this way.

Everything that has been said above about the effect of video games on cognitive ability, memory, and decision-making skills is also true for children. Most of the concerns are of a different nature. So, scientists argue that spending a long time playing video games increases the risk of obesity among children, and also worsens school performance. Also, children are more likely to develop an addiction.

Can Video Games Make You Addicted?

Yes, video games are addictive. Fortunately, that doesn’t make them as dangerous as hard drugs, but! According to various studies, between 1% and 16% of gamers suffer from addiction. At the same time, addiction to video games is defined as a complete disregard for offline life, complete immersion in the virtual environment, and absolute prioritization of victories and defeats in a video game over anything.

Interesting fact! MMORPGs games provoke addiction much more than any other.

Also, the tendency to addiction (and to any of the addictions other than video games) is a very individual factor. Many players may remain addiction-free, while others may need only one session to get hooked.

Can Video Games Make You Dumb?

No. Quality, thoughtful, strategic, and actionable video games are beneficial for brain activity, as we have stated. However, there are a lot of weird, strange, and frankly dumb games you should never play so as not to tarnish your honor as a gamer.

Conclusion

Video games are a phenomenon that has no golden mean. You can treat them either extremely positively or extremely negatively, but you cannot be somewhere in between. This attitude of society towards video games has led to the fact that many studies of video games contradict each other, revealing opportunities for further research.

What is more, this is a fairly new concept from a scientific point of view, plus the capabilities of the brain will most likely never be 100% explored. This means that scientists will continue to share their developments, hypotheses, and evidence with us, and in the meantime, players should not forget that everything should have its reasonable limits.