Your brain on video games | Daphne Bavelier

Summary

In this insightful talk, a brain scientist explores the impact of video games on cognitive functions, challenging common misconceptions. Contrary to the belief that excessive gaming leads to attention problems and poor eyesight, research shows that action-packed games can enhance vision, attention span, and even mental rotation abilities. The speaker argues that video games, when played in moderation, can have positive effects on the brain, similar to the benefits of wine when consumed responsibly. The goal is to create engaging games that incorporate 'brain broccoli' to promote learning and rehabilitation, bridging the gap between entertainment and cognitive enhancement.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The speaker is a brain scientist interested in how the brain learns and the possibility of enhancing cognitive abilities through video games.
• 🎮 Video games are not just for children; the average gamer is 33 years old, and the gaming demographic is shifting towards older adults.
• 📈 The impact of video games on society is significant, as evidenced by the massive amount of time spent playing games like 'Call Of Duty: Black Ops'.
• 🎯 Contrary to common belief, action video games can improve vision by enhancing the ability to resolve small details and different levels of gray.
• 🤓 The speaker challenges the assumption that video games lead to attention problems, showing that gamers can resolve conflicts faster and have better attention spans.
• 🔍 Action video games can improve the efficiency of brain networks responsible for attention, including the parietal cortex, frontal lobe, and anterior cingulate.
• 🚗 Gamers excel at multitasking and can switch between tasks quickly with minimal cost, unlike those who engage in multimedia-tasking.
• 🧐 The effects of video games on the brain are nuanced and require scientific measurement rather than relying on general wisdom or assumptions.
• 🍇 The benefits of video games are similar to those of wine; when used in moderation, they can have positive effects on health and cognitive function.
• 🧩 The speaker emphasizes the need for collaboration between brain scientists and the entertainment software industry to create games that are both engaging and beneficial for cognitive development.
• 🛠️ Ongoing research aims to identify the 'active ingredients' in video games that promote brain plasticity, learning, and attention to inform the development of educational and rehabilitative games.

Q & A

What is the average age of a video game player according to the transcript?

The average age of a video game player is 33 years old, not eight years old as commonly assumed.

What impact does playing action video games have on eyesight according to the research mentioned in the script?

Contrary to the common belief that screen time worsens eyesight, the research indicates that people who play action video games for several hours a week have better vision, especially in resolving small details and different levels of gray.

How does playing action video games affect attention and distractability?

The script suggests that playing action video games does not lead to attention problems or greater distractability. In fact, players of these games tend to resolve conflicts faster and have improved attention span and tracking abilities.

What is the role of the parietal cortex, frontal lobe, and anterior cingulate in attention control, as mentioned in the script?

The parietal cortex controls the orientation of attention, the frontal lobe controls how we sustain attention, and the anterior cingulate is responsible for how we allocate, regulate attention, and resolve conflict.

What is the counterintuitive finding about the effects of action video games on multitasking abilities?

The counterintuitive finding is that people who play a lot of action video games are actually very good at multitasking, switching tasks quickly and with minimal cost.

What is the comparison made between the effects of wine and video games on health in the script?

The comparison made is that, like wine, video games can have both positive and negative effects on health. When consumed in reasonable doses and at the right age, wine can be beneficial, and similarly, action video games can have powerful effects on brain plasticity, learning, and attention.

What is the purpose of conducting training studies in the context of the research mentioned in the script?

The purpose of conducting training studies is to demonstrate that by forcing individuals to play action games, researchers can change aspects such as vision for the better, which is crucial for rehabilitation or educational purposes.

What is the challenge faced by researchers in creating games that are both educational and entertaining?

The challenge is to combine the 'broccoli' side, which refers to the beneficial ingredients in games, with the 'chocolate' side, which refers to the entertaining aspect that makes games irresistible to players.

How does the script address the misconception that video games are only for children?

The script addresses this misconception by stating that 90% of children play video games, but the average age of a gamer is 33, and the demographics of future video game players are older adults.

What is the role of brain imaging in the research discussed in the script?

Brain imaging is used to observe the impact of video games on the brain, particularly noting changes in the brain networks that control attention, such as the parietal cortex, frontal lobe, and anterior cingulate.