By: Rajan Patel

The Purpose Of My Topic

I believe there are benefits of playing video games. The benefits need to be recognized instead of always recognizing the negatives. Finding the benefits of video games is important because the focus is usually on finding the negatives of playing video games. All the negativity of video games makes finding the benefits of video games more difficult. Playing video games does have its drawbacks; however that shouldnt be the only focus. There should be more focus on the benefits. The positive effects of playing video games buried beneath all the negative needs to be uncovered.

Positive Psychological Functions Of Video Games

There are significant positive psychological functions of playing video games. According to Jason Allaire of North Carolina States Universitys Gains Through Gaming Lab, Games can have a positive impact, particularly with psychological functions ( qtd. in France-Presse). Referring to the Gains Through Gaming Lab, Allaire states, We focus on cognition and learning, trying to understand the exact mechanisms, such as the impact on reaction time and memory (qtd. in France-Presse). Allaire conducted a study which demonstrated that seniors who are gamers displayed greater emotional stability than non-gamers.

Positive Psychological Functions Of Video Games cont.

The results of the study doesnt signify a causation, however Allaire feels confident this will occur eventually. Allaire argues against researchers who blame video games for shootings by stating, there is no evidence to show that playing a violent videogame can cause you to engage in violent behaviors (qtd. In France-Presse). Allaires inquiry is greatly relevant and significant towards my topic of research. I strongly agree towards Allaire on the effects of video games. Allaire appears to feel strongly about finding benefits of video games, similar to how I feel. I find that Allaire provides truly credible information.

Positive Psychological Functions Of Video Games cont.

Playing certain types of games can offer different specific benefits. For example, playing shooting or driving games enhances the ability to search for hidden a target, according to a University of Toronto study. Researcher Ian Spence said these visual skills can be useful (FrancePresse). According to Ian Spence, Its necessary for baggage screening, reading X-rays, or MRIs, interpreting satellite images, defeating camouflage or even just locating a friends face in a crowd (qtd. in FrancePresse).

Positive Psychological Functions Of Video Games cont.

Surgeons who played video games, made less errors, most likely due to improved focus and coordination, this is based on a 2004 study. Continuing on, Northeastern professor Magy Seif el-Nasr feels similarly about the effects of video games as Jason Allaire, who I mentioned earlier. According to Seif el-Nasr, some games can promote a lot of thinking, this kind of problem-solving activity promotes better cognition and memory over time (qtd. in FrancePresse). Hes been working on research on the effects of video games. I find the source that I gained the following information from to be quite valid and credible. The source presented its information well.

Video Games Influence On The Brain

Video games can positively influence the brain. University of Wisconsin learning sciences professor, James Gee and other researchers support this by implying that video games can be mentally stimulating. This is based on results from laboratory experiments, which allowed Gee and the researchers to realize that playing video games have cognitive benefits such as pattern recognition, system thinking, and patience. Lurking in this research is the idea that gaming can exercise the mind the way physical activity exercises the body.. (Johnson). Gaming requires a great deal of thinking like focusing in the game, having patience, ability to delay gratification, and using resources wisely.

Video Games Influence On The Brain cont.

Playing video games can be like the processing that takes place in the brain. Gee contends that the way gamers explore virtual worlds mirrors the way the brain processes multiple, but interconnected, streams of information in the real world (Johnson). Gee states that, Basically, how we think is through running perceptual simulations in our heads that prepare us for the actions were going to take, by modeling those simulations, video games externalize how the mind works (qtd. in Johnson). I find it compelling that playing video games is similar to how the brain processes information.

Video Games Influence On The Brain cont.

Games provide steady advancements based on players skill unlike other forms of entertainment like books and movies. Continuing on, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, which is a more complex video game requires thinking on four distinct levels. These levels are manual interface, character view, internalized map, and balancing act. Manual interface involves controlling the movements of the character, by memorizing several button combinations on a game controller or a PC keyboard. Character view involves keeping track of what you see in the virtual world. Internalized maps involves remembering the complex map in each level.

Video Games Influence On The Brain cont.

Balancing act involves keeping up with multiple objectives at one time and making decisions in each level. This source provided strong arguments towards my topic. The source is quite credible and valid for an article from 2005. The article doesnt feel too outdated for a 8 year old article. The information can be correlated into video games now, even though video games advanced greatly within 8 years.

In Conclusion.
I felt both the two sources had similar audiences because theres the same amount of availability for each source. The first source had a wider range of audiences because it was from a news site. The second source had a more specific range of audiences because it was from a science magazine. I feel that the sources demonstrated that I should explore the more cognitive side of my topic, like how a persons brain functions while playing video games and the benefits he/she experiences.

Works Cited
France-Presse, Agence. Researchers explore positive social and cognitive effects of video games. The Raw Story. Raw Story Media, 17 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.
Johnson, Steven. Your Brain on Video Games: Could they actually be good for you? Discovermagazine.com. Kalmbach Publishing, 24 July 2005. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.