summary: Large-scale study found that playing video games improves cognitive performance but has no effect on mental health, while exercise improves mental health without affecting cognition . More than 1,000 participants played video games, completed lifestyle surveys, and then completed cognitive tests.
The results showed that frequent gamers had the same cognitive abilities as those 13.7 years younger, while those who met WHO physical activity guidelines were more likely to report less anxiety and depression. I did. This study provides valuable insight into how video games and exercise affect brain health and mental well-being.
Important facts:
- Frequent video game play improved cognition, but had no effect on mental health.
- Exercise improved mental health but had no effect on cognitive performance.
- On average, gamers performed cognitively as well as people 13.7 years younger.
sauce: University of Western Ontario
Playing video games may improve cognitive performance and exercise may play a role in improving mental health, not the other way around, a large study has found.
This surprising discovery is part of the Brain and Body study, a collaboration between Western University and the Museum of Science and Industry for the Manchester Science Festival. A preprint of the work is PsyArXiv.
More than 2,000 participants from around the world will enroll in the study and will be asked to complete a lifestyle survey, which will then accurately measure various aspects of cognition, including memory, attention, reasoning, and language skills. An online Crayos brain game was held.
The study, led by Western’s renowned neuroscientist Adrian Owen, found that out of about 1,000 people who completed all tasks, playing video games had a positive impact on individuals’ cognition, but less on their mental health. was shown to have no effect.
However, exercising for more than 150 minutes a week according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines is thought to improve mental health, but not cognition.
“Playing video games is associated with improved cognitive performance, but not with better or worse mental health, while more physical activity is associated with improved mental health.” but not associated with improved or worsened cognitive health,” said Owen, a professor of cognitive neuroscience and image processing at Western Schulich University. School of Medicine and School of Dentistry.
The study found that people who played video games frequently (those who played at least five hours a week on one type of game) had, on average, the same cognitive ability as someone 13.7 years younger. People who played video games infrequently (less than 5 hours a week of all types of games combined) performed just as well as people who were 5.2 years younger.
Regarding mental health, participants who met or exceeded the WHO recommendation of 150 minutes of physical activity per week were 12% more likely to report no symptoms of depression and no symptoms of anxiety. 9% more likely.
The data also suggest that these differences in mental health were not driven by the people in the study with severe depression or anxiety. Rather, physical activity made the biggest difference at the lower end of both scales, where symptoms were mild or not present at all.
connection between brain and body
Despite seemingly obvious examples of the brain-body relationship, such as how being “hungry” affects your ability to concentrate, how stress tenses your muscles, and how steady breathing calms your mind, it’s difficult to understand how the brain and body interact with each other. Little is understood about how these effects occur.
By completing the study, the Western team was able to better understand how lifestyle is related to long-term brain health.
“The results of this study may help us all choose activities that promote healthy cognitive aging,” Owen said.
Details of the discovery will be presented by Mr Owen at the Museum of Science and Industry on October 19, as part of the Manchester Science Festival, which runs from October 18 to 27. Festival visitors will also have the opportunity to participate in the pilot. We will conduct research to follow up on these results.
While the online study focuses on long-term effects, the Western team is recruiting festival-goers to participate in a pilot study to investigate short-term improvements in cognition as a result of exercise and gaming. We are planning to invite them.
Owen will also explain how the brain processes sound and light during the Squid Soup collective’s artistic panel of the festival. Inspired by the work of Piet Mondrian, “State of Mind” features a three-dimensional arrangement of LED lights within an interesting and informative soundscape.
About this Cognitive and Mental Health Research News
author: jeff renault
sauce: University of Western Ontario
contact: Jeff Renaud – University of Western Ontario
image: Image credited to Neuroscience News
Original research: Closed access.
“Characterizing the cognitive and mental health benefits of exercise and video game play: Brain and Body Studies” by Conor J Wild et al. PsyArXiv
abstract
Characterizing the cognitive and mental health benefits of exercise and video game play: Brain and Body Studies
Exercise and video games, two of the most actively researched modifiable lifestyle factors, are simple and effective ways to enhance brain function and protect it from age-related decline. It is regularly promoted as a method.
However, some important questions and methodological inconsistencies still remain, and it remains unclear which aspects of brain health, or if, exercise and video games affect.
A global online study of over 1,000 people used Creyos battery tests of short-term memory, verbal ability, and reasoning skills to collect data on participants’ physical activity levels, video game playing time, mental health, and cognitive abilities. Collected. .
The amount of regular physical activity was not significantly associated with measures of cognitive performance. However, more physical activity was associated with improved mental health as indexed using the PHQ-2 and GAD-2 screening tools for depression and anxiety.
Conversely, they found that increased time spent playing video games was associated with improved cognitive performance, but was unrelated to mental health.
We believe that exercise and video games have different effects on the brain, which may help individuals adjust their lifestyle choices to promote mental health and cognitive health, respectively, across the lifespan. I am concluding.
