Study: Playing Tetris Changes Your Brain For the Better
Study: Playing Tetris Changes Your Brain For the Better
September 2, 2009
There have been several studies over the years which have used an MRI to show changes that occur in a gamer’s brain after a bit of play time.
Here’s another one.
Researchers at the Mind Research Network found that playing Tetris for three months had increased efficiency and beefed up the amount of gray matter in the brains of a group of adolescent girls. The results, which will be published in BMC Research Notes later this week, showed that focusing on a “challenging visuospatial task” such as a video game could not just increase brain activity but alter the structure of the brain as well by thickening the cortexes.
So, what benefit does a fatter, more efficient brain offer? According to one of the study’s authors, Dr. Richard Haier, it may be a way to help combat the mental decline that occurs with age.
Not bad for an activity many consider to be a waste of time.
Via: Wired
-Reporting from San Diego, GamePolitics Senior Correspondent Andrew Eisen...
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Posted 03/18/10 at 12:07pm
JDKJ: No, I did you the favor and said it for you.
JDKJ: No, I did you the favor and said it for you.
Posted 03/18/10 at 12:06pm
Valdearg: What I said was while I may have implied long term accuraccy, and that might have been incorrect, my greater point that the CBO report calculated reduced deficits, expanded coverage, and lower costs is still 100% accurate. :D
Valdearg: What I said was while I may have implied long term accuraccy, and that might have been incorrect, my greater point that the CBO report calculated reduced deficits, expanded coverage, and lower costs is still 100% accurate. :D
Posted 03/18/10 at 12:06pm
Valdearg: Like any good politician, I don't believe I said "I was incorrect." :P
Valdearg: Like any good politician, I don't believe I said "I was incorrect." :P
Posted 03/18/10 at 12:02pm
JDKJ: If you'd said "I was incorrect" 10 shouts ago, I'd have quit twisting your arm to get you see the obvious 10 shouts ago.
JDKJ: If you'd said "I was incorrect" 10 shouts ago, I'd have quit twisting your arm to get you see the obvious 10 shouts ago.
Posted 03/18/10 at 12:00pm
JDKJ: You were they one assuming 100% accuracy. In all caps, no less.
JDKJ: You were they one assuming 100% accuracy. In all caps, no less.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:59am
Valdearg: Yes, my implication that the long term estimates were facts was incorrect, but the short term calculations are absolutely facts, and even the long term estimates are still useful in attempting to determine exactly what will happen with the bill.
Valdearg: Yes, my implication that the long term estimates were facts was incorrect, but the short term calculations are absolutely facts, and even the long term estimates are still useful in attempting to determine exactly what will happen with the bill.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:58am
Valdearg: I do. The Short term costs are actually calculated facts. The long term estimates aren't necessarily 100% accurate, but to assume that they can't possibly be accurate because someone said they might not be 100% accurate is also wrong.
Valdearg: I do. The Short term costs are actually calculated facts. The long term estimates aren't necessarily 100% accurate, but to assume that they can't possibly be accurate because someone said they might not be 100% accurate is also wrong.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:57am
JDKJ: When someone says, "I could be wrong but, as best as I can tell, X," X ain't a fact.
JDKJ: When someone says, "I could be wrong but, as best as I can tell, X," X ain't a fact.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:53am
JDKJ: It's too early in the morning for you to be deaf, blind, and dumb drunk. A "my best guestimate" can't be a fact. Don't you understand the difference between the two?
JDKJ: It's too early in the morning for you to be deaf, blind, and dumb drunk. A "my best guestimate" can't be a fact. Don't you understand the difference between the two?
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:41am
Valdearg: By how much depends on variables that can't necessarily be predicted at this point in time. And yes, those Facts are accurate only so far into the future, but those estimates can certainly be used to support this measure.
Valdearg: By how much depends on variables that can't necessarily be predicted at this point in time. And yes, those Facts are accurate only so far into the future, but those estimates can certainly be used to support this measure.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:40am
Valdearg: And I'm saying, as far as the CBO report goes, the facts that it does put forward are deficit reduction, reducing costs, and expanding costs. Those ARE facts.
Valdearg: And I'm saying, as far as the CBO report goes, the facts that it does put forward are deficit reduction, reducing costs, and expanding costs. Those ARE facts.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:30am
JDKJ: You were the one championing a qualified estimate as an indisputable fact. I'm merely pointing out that it's far from indisputable. So says the estimator.
JDKJ: You were the one championing a qualified estimate as an indisputable fact. I'm merely pointing out that it's far from indisputable. So says the estimator.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:27am
Valdearg: Or are you only breaking that argument out because the CBO says that this bill is a good thing for our deficit?
Valdearg: Or are you only breaking that argument out because the CBO says that this bill is a good thing for our deficit?
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:27am
JDKJ: The CBO says that, to the extent it is possible to accurately predict defict reduction over the long term, it is likely to reduce the deficit. That's your idea of "a fact that don't lie?"
JDKJ: The CBO says that, to the extent it is possible to accurately predict defict reduction over the long term, it is likely to reduce the deficit. That's your idea of "a fact that don't lie?"
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:26am
Valdearg: Would you be singing the same tune if the CBO came back saying that the bill will likely double the deficit in 20 years??
Valdearg: Would you be singing the same tune if the CBO came back saying that the bill will likely double the deficit in 20 years??
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:26am
Valdearg: @JDKJ: Just because there is a margin of error doesn't mean that the numbers aren't at least psudo-accurate.
Valdearg: @JDKJ: Just because there is a margin of error doesn't mean that the numbers aren't at least psudo-accurate.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:25am
Valdearg: The point is that the bill reduces costs, expands coverage, and reduces the deficit.
Valdearg: The point is that the bill reduces costs, expands coverage, and reduces the deficit.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:24am
JDKJ: So why are you off and running with "facts and numbers don't lie" when the very author of the facts and numbers is acknowledging that their facts and numbers could quite easily be wrong?
JDKJ: So why are you off and running with "facts and numbers don't lie" when the very author of the facts and numbers is acknowledging that their facts and numbers could quite easily be wrong?
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:23am
Valdearg: @JDKJ: Indeed, but the 10 year is also showing a deficit reduction, and that's more accurate.
Valdearg: @JDKJ: Indeed, but the 10 year is also showing a deficit reduction, and that's more accurate.
Posted 03/18/10 at 11:19am
JDKJ: Val': Isn't the CBO saying at the same time that predicting the long term deficit reduction effect isn't anywhere near an exact science? And that its prediction should be taken with that understanding?
JDKJ: Val': Isn't the CBO saying at the same time that predicting the long term deficit reduction effect isn't anywhere near an exact science? And that its prediction should be taken with that understanding?
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Comments
I never thought of this game as a waste of time. I still think it's one of the greatest games ever.
I don't know how many batteries my Game Boy went through because of this game.
I'm not that surprised by this. Tetris clearly requires you to think quick on your feet and apply situation analysis. I am a little surprised (in a pleasant way) about the whole "combat mental decline" thing. But hey, way to go Tetris.
And now I have the song stuck in my head....
Not all too surprised by this study. It's real time problem solving mixed with spatial awareness, testing adaptation and encouraging proper planning (taking out 4 rows at once is a big, yet short lived, ego boost). This is what logic puzzles try to aim for...and it's been a tradition for gamers for quite some time.
And now I'm looking for a place where I can play it. Thanks GP, there goes my night.
So.....if I naw on the blocks dose that count?
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
I wonder if this benifet can come from other puzzle games like Dr. Mario or Bejeweled?
http://www.magicinkgaming.com/
Makes sense, it's like playing with building blocks for adults. I played this a lot as a kid so I hope that did help some of my brain development. Does anyone know if there's a study out there for adults?
www.20sidedwoman.blogspot.com
As much as I credit Tetris for giving me some much-needed perspective when I'm trying to pack my car for a road trip, don't we normally start hollering about how misguided and useless these gaming-related MRI studies are whenever they crop up? I can't really put my finger on why we're all being so agreeable about this one! Let me play some Tetris and see if it makes my brain expand so I can figure it out.
~la, la la la, la la la, la la la, la la la, la la, the tet-ris song~
Okay, I think I've got it: reading studies about MRI scans where certain parts of the brain light up cause those same parts to activate in the reader's brain. So when we read about the hypothalamus going off after a subject plays a violent first-person shooter, it also sets us off, resulting in aggressive posts and harsh dismissals of the science. But when we read that Tetris is making us more efficient thinkers, our brains also gain further efficiency, giving us the extra mental oomph we need to make more agreeable, thoughtful posts.
I know it sounds outlandish, but it's the best explanation I can come up with. I discarded the notion that there could possibly be any selection bias based on the positive or negative findings of the studies, since as we know, everyone who reads GP is fully capable of considering the merits of each story in a fair and balanced fashion without leaping to conclusions based on personal feelings. Right, guys? ;D
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The Mammon Philosophy
The song is "Korobeiniki"- it's a folk song based off a russian poem.
Mhm, I usually prefer the B tune, but the A tune is easier to transcribe as la-la-las.
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The Mammon Philosophy
This wasn't an MRI test though. Those are laughed at as it's a one time occurrence and the brain quickly reaches standard levels of operation shortly thereafter. From the sound of the article, though, this was a long term test that ended up calculating the increase in brain grey matter, something that doesn't quickly go away.
In other words, this shows that long term tetris playing actually does increase the matter of your brain, rather than a quick, temporary increase in chemical levels or brain activity.
If you are worried about Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, start using tobacco.
Far be it for me to decry Tetris, but from the "waste of time" viewpoint, this seems like just taking time from youth and adding it to old age. Of course, we "waste" a lot of time in our youth anyway. . .