Sometimes video games can be good for you
Posted by Jim Hanekamp | Posted in Brain games | Posted on 26-06-2009
0
Video games have been blamed for everything from causing aggression to giving you square eyes and a soft brain.
But what if video games are good for you?
Physio and occupational therapists started using simple video games in the late 1980s to treat people with a whole range of conditions from physical, learning or emotional disorders to cognitive problems following stroke and brain injury.
Today, a growing area of brain research suggests modern fast-paced action video games — in particular first-person shooter games — may sharpen your vision, improve your attention and working memory, and develop your fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
What’s more, these skills aren’t just virtual: they can help you do better in real-life situations, like driving your car or juggling more than one task at a time.
So what is it about blasting away your virtual enemies that’s so good for your head?

