The Skinny
Gaming gets a lot of heat. And there may be some good reasons for that. But for all the flak gaming receives, its benefits shouldn’t be overlooked. Admittedly, that’s easy to do, especially since some of gaming’s good deeds are easy to miss. But as usual, don’t worry. WellWell is here to fill in the blanks and lay out just what gaming can do for what ails you. Read on.
The Slate
Gaming is more than fun. Playing regularly works out your brain, effectively increasing gray matter and boosting brain connectivity. In case anyone is wondering, gray matter is associated with muscle control, memories, perception, and spatial navigation.
At least one study indicates those suffering from dyslexia may be able to improve their reading comprehension through heavy gaming sessions. The constantly changing environments of many games generate require intense focus that helps develop greater comprehension.
Vision may receive a boost from gaming, at least that’s what Dr. Daphen Maurer of the Visual Development Lab of Ontario’s McMaster University discovered. People with cataracts seem to improve their vision by playing first-person shooter games like Medal of Honor and Call of Duty. As with the potential benefits for dyslexics, the intensity associated with gaming helps these individuals view things more sharply.
The American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that dozens of studies reported playing video games can help individuals in a number of areas, including with psychological and physical therapy. Still other studies report gaming can reduce anxiety or pain caused by chronic illness or medical procedures.
Hand Eye Coordination Improvement
Not surprisingly, gaming has a positive effect on multi-tasking, brain flexibility and eye-hand coordination. Some studies have even reported that heavy gaming teenagers and college students can actually outperform medical residents with the difficult task of virtual surgeries, merely because they’re used to a similar setup with the gaming console.
Gaming can give a boost to an individual’s mental health, enhancing a person’s mood and reducing anxiety and stress. Some professionals now incorporate gaming into various therapies.
While not totally substantiated, some research has indicated that gaming can reduce a bully’s motivation to throw their emotional or physical weight around. Apparently, games that have players assuming a villain’s role, can make bullies feel remorse.
Eyes Up
You have a feelgood reason to game? Let us know at info@wellwellusa.com
