How Do Video Games Affect The Brain

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Have you ever been expected to give a concrete answer for something, only to realize that the question would not allow you to define it so simply? It's not really black or white, yes or no, right or wrong, or even up or down. It's complicated! Perspectives on how video and computer games affect the brain fit perfectly in this category. That's why I believe that the impact of video games can be both harmful and helpful to the brain. The level of dependency for the game, the purpose of the game, and the type of game being played all help determine the type of impact.
I was accustomed to playing video games throughout my entire childhood. Thankfully, I have two older brothers and an army full of cousins who helped me learn how to share and made …show more content…
Video games are now used for recreational, educational, and rehabilitation. Of course, recreational is the easiest to classify, but educational games are now introduced to help with problem solving, reasoning, and enabling individuals to excel at higher levels of understanding (Bavelier, Green, Han, Renshaw, Merzenich, & Gentile, 2011). They "use many techniques a truly exceptional teacher uses" (Bavelier, Green, Han, Renshaw, Merzenich, & Gentile, 2011, p.5). Likewise, driving-centered video games have also been shown to help rehabilitate traumatized motor accident victims. This gives them peace while re-entering a place they never thought they would feel comfortable …show more content…
Violent video games have been linked to causing aggression in day to day behavior as well as "hostile attribution bias" were all potential conflicts are seen as hostile intentions instead of mistakes or accidents (Bavelier, Green, Han, Renshaw, Merzenich, & Gentile, 2011). Basically, "whatever we practice repeatedly affects the brain" (Bavelier, Green, Han, Renshaw, Merzenich, & Gentile, 2011, p.3). A pattern will be created whether we like it or not. On the other hand, games that are pro-social have been shown to produce patterns of the opposite affects, detailing how individuals become more empathic and compassionate for others (Bavelier, Green, Han, Renshaw, Merzenich, & Gentile, 2011). While violent games may harden hearts, this genre of gaming helps to create a more friendly
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