Scientists: 'Tetris' Makes You Smarter
A study by the Mind Research Network reveals that playing 'Tetris' on a regular basis can improve critical thinking, planning skills, reasoning, and even language. Adolescent girls who played the game improved brain performance and efficiency, and also developed thicker cortexes. (We're told that's a good thing). The study, which spanned three months, is the first to use MRI brain scans to examine the neurological effects of gaming, and, as 'Tetris' celebrates its 25th anniversary, this news could not come at a more fortuitous time.
Given the geometric complexity involved in the otherwise simplistic gameplay, it's perhaps not surprising that the game would prove beneficial to cognition. Clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Rex Jung notes that 'Tetris' requires a unique skill set that helps sharpen "attention, hand-eye co-ordination, memory and visual spatial problem solving," often in simultaneity. The researchers also plan to extend the study to examine the effects, if any, that quitting Tetris may have on the brain -- presumably, after the requisite 12 steps.
We, for one, hope to see many more studies of this kind, if only to make us feel better about how we've spent the vast majority of our lives. (We're not quite optimistic about forthcoming 'Pong' results, though.) But all proud members of the 'Tetris' Generation should take solace in the fact that all of those "mindless" hours we spent idling in front of our PCs or Game Boys may not have killed so many brain cells after all, despite contemporary evidence to the contrary. [From: News.com.au, via Fox]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dr. Mark Carrier said 3:44PM on 10-14-2009
Playing Tetris might not be much different than putting together an old-fashioned puzzle, playing a board game or playing a sport. There's no reason to think that its benign content would have negative effects on the brain. However, a violent computer game would be expected to have negative consequences on behavior and learning. Conversely, a computer game with a positive message ought to have positive consequences. These effects might even be enhanced with advanced video game technology. We are doing a study in our lab right now here at California State University, Dominguez Hills looking at this.
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