Canadian research teams prove that regularly playing certain types of video games can reduce or promote gray matter growth in the hippocampus
Orange County, CA - August 21st 2017 - Gray matter in the hippocampus is responsible for a majority of the central nervous system. This matter includes regions of the brain responsible for muscle control and sensory perception such as hearing, seeing, memory, emotions, self-control, speech, and decision making. Research teams from The University of Montreal and McGill University in Canada have proven that regularly playing video games can reduce or promote gray matter growth in the hippocampus depending on the type of gameplay.
In the initial study 33 participants were used and divided into two groups. The two smaller groups consisted of regular action video game players and a control group for later comparisons. In inquiring about the navigation strategies implemented by participants while playing the games, it was common for spatial learners to use target objects and landmarks, while response learners relied on memory and pattern recognition. Using an MRI machine, researchers found that players who were more likely to use response strategies, memories and patterns, showed significantly less gray matter in the hippocampus.
To back up these original findings two additional studies were conducted, this time using 64 participants subjected to 90 hours of training on a multitude of video games. Another MRI scan revealed those who received training on the other style of game, the spatial navigation learners who focused on picking target object as landmarks, had increased gray matter over time.
The Canadian team wants to continue research in this area, especially studies implementing games to improve visual short-term memory and attention. This form of therapy is very natural and has the potential to help people with learning or behavioral problems in a comfortable and safe environment of their choosing.
