Videogames and fast learning: myth or reality?
Playing videogames increases learning levels: this is the result of research published in Behavioral Brain Research and conducted by neuro-psychologists at the University of Ruhr in Bochum, which illustrates how video-gamers achieve better results in tests and show higher levels of cerebral activity compared to non-gamers.
In order to establish this, the German experts selected 34 individuals, of whom 17 were gamers who declared that they spent at least 15 hours per week at the console. All the people chosen did the so-called weather prediction task and underwent magnetic resonance scans to register their cerebral activity and assess their ability to learn the probabilities.
The test consisted of looking at three maps at once showing different symbols and trying to work out if the combinations indicated sun or rain. In addition, certain combinations were associated with a larger or smaller chance of sun or rain. After completing the game, the people had to answer some questions regarding what they had learnt.
As mentioned above, researchers concluded from the results that those who play videogames have a sharper learning ability than those who do not play, even when a high level of uncertainty is present. This conclusion was reached based on both the answers to the questionnaire and the results of the magnetic resonance tests.
By using this questionnaire, the researchers realised that the gamers have a greater awareness of the real meaning of the various combinations of maps. In addition, certain individuals also demonstrated a better and faster analysis of situations that they face from time to time.
According to the experts, all this depends on the activity of the hypothalamus: to be precise, the gamers’ hypothalamus showed greater activity compared to that of the non-gamers. This can be transformed into real advantages both for younger, as well as older people (senior citizens).
These are the results and conclusions of the research in question: answers to be taken into consideration in the development of possible treatments for patients with reduced memory capacity or other similar problems. It remains to be seen whether these results will be considered by the medical world.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
