Video Games and the Brain
Introduction
Video gaming is one of the highest common forms of entertainment preferred by many people across the world. Video gamers spend a lot of time in front of their screens, which is about 3 billion hours a week collectively. Scientists have researched how video gaming can positively change the state of an individual’s brain. Playing video games does not only change how people’s minds work but also their building. Video gamers tend to have excellent attention qualities that comprise of sustained attention and selective attention (Trueit, 2009). The parts of the brain that are responsible for attention tend to be more active in gamer compared to non-gamers and need less initiation to be engrossed. By playing video games, one can increase the scope and ability of their brain accountable for visuospatial skills capability. Video gaming boosts the brain memory of gamers; 3D games can improve cognitive performance in older adults.
Current Data Trends
Video gaming is a widespread free time usage that interests more than two billion users globally (Newzoo, 2017). Researchers have underscored the potential danger involved with video gaming. The amount of time that games spend to play video games has improved from 5.1 hours per week in 2011 to 6.5 hours per week in 2017 (The Nielsen Company, 2017). Video gaming has a positive impact on psychology since it improves focus, multitasking, and working memory. People have different reasons why they play video games, such as to divert them from daily annoyances or because they find it enjoyable to interact with the virtual world (Ryan et al., 2006). Though there are several effects that video gaming can come along with, the positive impact of video gaming is immense, and there is a need to encourage people to engage in video gaming during their free time. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Critical Analysis
From the data given, it is evident that most people are playing video games regularly. Video gaming companies are making vast amounts of money through video gaming. The society should embrace video since it has positive effects to do with the brain if controlled well. There is a lot to do with video gaming that people need to be aware of, for one to become a video game developer, they need to get interested in playing video games at first. The high sales from video gaming companies show that people have a positive mindset towards video gaming, and they like what they play. There is a need to do away with too much addiction to video gaming, as researchers say because it can lead to steady adverse effects on the brain. It is still clear that the positive effects of video gaming outdo the negative ones.
Video games sales since 1970 to 2018
Social Responsibility
There are different notions of video games in various societies. Some societies see video gaming positively, while others think that it is not suitable for them and their kids. Some parents would allow their kids to play video games because they understand how beneficial it is to their minds, while others will not let it because they have different perspectives about video gaming. To help resolve the issues related to video gaming, gamers, and video gaming companies, together with researchers, need to create awareness on video gaming. People need to understand the benefits of video gaming to help them not to discourage their children from playing video games. By playing video games, is one way of spending their free time and not engaging themselves in unproductive activities.
References
Newzoo (2017). 2017 Global Games Market Report: Trends, Insights, and Projections Toward 2020.
Ryan R. M., Rigby C. S., Przybylski A. (2006). The motivational pull of video games: a self-determination theory approach. Motiv. Emot. 30 344–360. 10.1007/s11031-006-9051-8
The Nielsen Company (2017). Games 360 U.S. Report. New York, NY: The Nielsen Company.
Trueit, T. S. (2009). Video gaming. Ann Arbor, Mich: Cherry Lake Pub.