Playing Online Games and Cognitive Benefits (part 3)
- Enhance attention and vigilance
We can use online games as a method for treating dyslexia. Although this problem is not common, there are many people, both adults and children, who suffer from it, and in some cases, it’s caused by the lack of visual attention. One study found that less than twelve hours a week of playing games could improve the dyslexia of children. They could enhance their scores on tests of reading and phonology, and the fact is that this improvement was even more significant than the achievement obtained from the special training programs that we use to treat dyslexia.
Executive functioning allows people to respond rapidly, make efficient decisions, etc., and online games do help people improve it. A study of Chiappi and colleagues suggested that online gaming could develop and enhance the ability to carry out multiple tasks. Their study involved a test called the Multi-Attribute Task Battery, which simulates the skills of piloting aircraft. Participants have to use a joystick to keep a target on a screen. At the same time, they need to monitor the fuel level, respond to lights, and listen and respond to radio communication, and after 50 hours of gaming, they all showed a significant improvement on this test.
Also, lots of researches indicated that we could increase our mental flexibility with online games. For instance, with action games, we can improve our abilities to change quickly between different tasks without making errors.
Moreover, we can also reverse the mental decline by playing games. Like other parts of our body, our brain gets old too. Our cognitive flexibility, memory, attention, etc. will get worse with time, but now, we can stop this decline or at least make it happen slower by enjoying games. Many experiences with elderly participants show that playing games can result in improvement of brain-power. It not only makes cognitive improvements but also enhances the quality of life of the elderly. So online games are also considered as an efficient method for treating Alzheimer’s and dementia.
