Researchers have linked spending more time playing video games with increased intelligence in children, which goes some way to contradicting the statement that gaming is bad for young brains.
While the difference in cognitive abilities was a small one and not enough to show a causal relationship, it is enough to be notable—and the study did take into account variables including genetics and differences in the child’s socioeconomic background.
Meanwhile, TV viewing and social media use did not have a positive or negative effect on intelligence. The research should prove useful in the debate on how appropriate screen time is for young brains.
“Digital media defines modern childhood, but its cognitive implications are unclear and hotly debated,” write the researchers in their published paper.
“We believe that studies with genetic data can clarify causal claims and correct for the generally unaccounted role of genetic predispositions.”
Researchers looked at the screen time records of 9,855 children in the ABCD study, across the US and those aged 9 or 10. On average, youth reported spending 2.5 hours per day watching TV or online video, 1 hour playing video games, and half an hour. An hour of socializing on the Internet.
Researchers accessed data on more than 5,000 of those children two years later. In the intervening period, those in the study who reported spending more time than the norm on video games saw an average increase of 2.5 IQ points.
The increase of IQ points was based on children’s tasks that included tasks focused on reading comprehension, visual-spatial processing and memory, flexible thinking, and self-control.
It is important to note that while the study only looked at children in the US and did not differentiate between video game types (mobile versus console games), it is still a valuable insight into gaming and IQ – and supports this idea. That intelligence is not a constant constant with which we are born.
“Our results support the claim that screen time in general does not impair children’s cognitive abilities, and that playing video games may actually help boost intelligence,” says neuroscientist Torkel Klingberg from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. might.”
As the researchers note, this is not the first study to suggest that there may be a link between children’s gaming and the development of their cognitive abilities – and there appear to be other associated benefits from video games.
The team behind the current research says the small sample sizes, different study designs, and lack of consideration for genetic and socio-economic effects have led to conflicting reports of screen time effects that we have seen to date. Is. , Those are the limitations that this study aims to minimize.
All of this is to say that there are a lot of factors at play, both in terms of how intelligence can be developed and built and the different ways in which screen time can affect our bodies and our habits – much more research is needed.
“We didn’t examine the effects of screen behavior on physical activity, sleep, well-being or school performance, so we can’t say anything about that,” Klingberg says.
research has been published in scientific report,
