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Video games can boost cognition – and maybe mental health

A large-scale survey found that video games improved people’s cognitive abilities, but not their mental health – online gamers, however, say that ‘cosy’ gaming provides a coping mechanism for mental health problems

23rd October 2024 about a 4 minute read
“Playing video games was associated with improved cognitive abilities but not better or worse mental health, whereas more physical activity was associated with improved mental health but not better or worse cognitive health." Adrian Owen, professor in cognitive neuroscience and imaging, Western University

Playing video games can boost cognitive abilities, while exercise can play a part in improving mental health, a large-scale study has found.

The study, carried out by Western University in Canada in collaboration with the Science and Industry Museum, involved 2,000 participants from around the world. The participants were asked to complete a lifestyle survey followed by Creyos online brain games that accurately measure different aspects of cognition, such as memory, attention, reasoning and verbal abilities.

The research, led by Adrian Owen, a professor in cognitive neuroscience and imaging at Western, and published on PsyArXiv, showed that among approximately 1,000 people who finished all the tasks, playing video games had a positive effect on an individual’s cognition, but did not seem to affect their mental health. The participants who frequently played video games (five or more hours per week for a single type of game) performed cognitively, on average, like people who were 13.7 years younger. Those who engaged less than five hours per week across all kinds of games performed like people 5.2 years younger.

Conversely, exercising more than 150 minutes a week was found to improve mental wellbeing but had no effect on cognition. Participants who met or exceeded the WHO recommendations of 150 minutes of physical activity per week were 12% more likely to report having no symptoms of depression and 9% more likely to have no symptoms of anxiety. “Playing video games was associated with improved cognitive abilities but not better or worse mental health, whereas more physical activity was associated with improved mental health but not better or worse cognitive health,” Owen said.

The physical activity made the greatest difference at the lower end of the scales, that is where symptoms of depression or anxiety were either mild or absent altogether.

“The results of this study could help all of us choose activities that promote healthy cognitive aging,” said Owen.

‘Cosy’ games entail playing in a relaxed setting

Nonetheless, some gamers say that they have found gaming benefits their mental health. Mind Cymru, a mental health charity, says that “cosy” gaming can provide a coping mechanism for people experiencing mental health problems, because It involves a focus on daily routines, community-building or solving mysteries, rather than combat and competition.

Cosy games such as Animal Crossing often involve playing in a relaxed setting, with players using lights and blankets to create a comforting atmosphere. They are often cheaper than other video games and many are made by smaller games developers.

They can be played on desktops or laptops, and on consoles like Nintendo Switch and Xbox.

Animal Crossing is one of the games played by members of Nintendo South Wales, a group that hosts free events every month for Nintendo fans. The gamers say that playing cosy games has given their members a sense of community and, for some, an important lifeline.

Ben Ayling, who has schizophrenia and other mental and physical health conditions, told the BBC he uses gaming as an escape. “I know that after pressing the buttons for a few minutes, I’ll have forgotten that I was struggling,” he said. “If you’ve got mental health problems, I can’t recommend anything else because all you have to do is open your eyes and move your fingers. It doesn’t take any effort and you get so much back.”

Another member, Lindsey Lawrence, said: “A cosy game to me is just something that makes you feel really warm and happy inside. It’s not just about pixels, it goes beyond that.”

Simon Jones, head of policy and campaigns for Mind Cymru, said that while some people like to be physically active, others might prefer to read a book or see a friend to improve their mental wellbeing. “Gaming obviously plays a role for some people, and that’s a valuable part for someone’s toolkit,” he added.

FCC Insight

The Western University study showing that playing video games appears to improve cognition, while having no effect on mental health, is perhaps surprising. While in the past there has been concern that video games could have a detrimental effect on mental health, recent research, including a study from the University of Oxford, has found the opposite. Testimony from people playing “cosy” games such as Animal Crossing certainly suggests that people derive mental wellbeing from the sense of community involved in playing, as well as feelings of relaxation. Maybe the answer is that it depends on the game, with gentle, multiplayer games offering benefits not provided by more combative, single-user games. It’s clearly an area where we need more research.