Analyzing the Cognitive Benefits of Video Games: An Essay

This essay critically examines the brain-boosting power of video games, supported by research studies that highlight the positive impacts on cognitive abilities and mental wellbeing. The author agrees with the perspective that video games improve grey matter and refine learned expertise, influencing areas of the brain responsible for memory, spatial movement, information processing, and fine motor skills. The essay delves into cognitive benefits such as enhanced mental rotation, attentiveness, and problem-solving abilities, emphasizing the potential of video games to foster cognitive development, self-esteem, and emotional encounters, particularly for young people and individuals in settings like AHRC New York City Middle/High School. The author concludes that video games are efficacious tools to improve brain health and build learning resilience. References include studies by Bavelier & Green (2016), Andringa & Boot (2017), Ballesteros, Voelcker-Rehage & Bherer (2018), and Pallavicini, Ferrari & Mantovani (2018).

Brain Boosting Power of Video Games
NAME OF STUDENT:
COURSE NAME:

Critique
Believe it or not “ The Brain Boosting power of video games” has been confirmed that they
are good for brain and body health. Actual research studies has presented that video games
are not only for fun but even boosts health as they are sports after all and these help in
exercising of brain which enhances quality of life for disabled and mentally challenged. I
agree with the outlook that playing video games improves grey matter which is normally the
size of brain and aids in refining learned and hardwired expertise. So playing video games on
websites might direct affect and influence the areas of brain that are accountable for memory,
spatial movement, information processing and fine motor skills (Bavelier & Green, 2016).
Nonetheless brain boosting power of video games is constantly on debate amongst
psychologists and health experts as many of them indicate on adverse impacts of gaming such
as addiction, depression and aggression, which certainly cannot be neglected. While several
support the view that video games actually strengthen a wide range of cognitive abilities like
reasoning, memory and perception as players were found to have enhanced their capacity to
think about objects and experienced benefits during these interactive games. In my opinion
video games offer children and young with powerful social, cognitive and emotional
encounters and even boost mental wellbeing. Playing video games can boost brain power by
developing certain areas like cognitive development. Studies have presented that video games
enhance mental rotation ability, rapid and precise attentiveness indicating comparable
outcomes similar to training of courses developed to improve such competencies (Andringa
& Boot, 2017). Cognitive benefits from video games also takes shape due to larger neural
processing and efficacy that enhances attentiveness and aids with sequence identification.
Further video games and interactive media available over websites permits youngsters
enhance their problem solving abilities through realisation to resolve puzzles by trial and
error. Even these seems to enhance creativity too though it is unclear how capably these
abilities acquired from video games generalise to actual life scenarios (Ballesteros, Voelcker-
Rehage & Bherer, 2018).
Moreover in my review, playing video games might be helpful for AHRC New York City
Middle / High School partner as by establishing particular tasks and facilitating youngsters
these video games seems to function through hurdles to attain objectives, which indicates that
video games aid to enhance self-esteem and aids teenagers and youngster acquire the value of
determination. Through offering instant feedback the video game players may resolve
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complications and attain better skills or may learn to perceive themselves as having expertise
and intellect they may not else realise they possessed. As such playing video games aids
youngsters realise that intellect is incremental i.e. it can be enhanced with time and efforts
rather than being definite. Further playing video games might be favourable for AHRC New
York City Middle / High School partner as these may enhance mood. Along with distracting
players from real world concerns or life situation, these games can direct to positive feelings
or emotions like lower anxiety and can help to relax. Several players even relate to intense
feelings of pride and attainment when they get immersed in video games that permits high
sense of control (Pallavicini, Ferrari & Mantovani, 2018). Hence I can be concluded that
playing video games can be efficacious tools to improve brain health as well as build learning
resilience in face of failures.
References
Andringa, R., & Boot, W. R. (2017). Video Games. In Theory-Driven Approaches to
Cognitive Enhancement (pp. 199-210). Springer, Cham. Retrieved from 10.1007/978-3-
319- 57505-6_14
Ballesteros, S., Voelcker-Rehage, C., & Bherer, L. (2018). Cognitive and brain plasticity
induced by physical exercise, cognitive training, video games, and combined
interventions. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 12, 169. Retrieved from
doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00169
Bavelier, D., & Green, C. S. (2016). The brain-boosting power of video games. Scientific
American, 315(1), 26-31. Retrieved from: 10.1038/scientificamerican0716-26
Pallavicini, F., Ferrari, A., & Mantovani, F. (2018). Video games for well-being: A
systematic review on the application of computer games for cognitive and emotional
training in the adult population. Frontiers in psychology, 9, 2127. Retrieved from
doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02127
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