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Research uncovers surprising influence of video games on children's intellectual aptitude scores

Video game playtime linked to higher IQ in kids, putting to rest the notion that such activities are detrimental to young intellects.

Impact of Video Games Unveiled: Surprising Impacts on Children's Intellectual Capacity
Impact of Video Games Unveiled: Surprising Impacts on Children's Intellectual Capacity

Research uncovers surprising influence of video games on children's intellectual aptitude scores

In a groundbreaking study published in Scientific Reports in 2022, researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found that playing video games can lead to significant improvements in children's cognitive skills and intelligence[1]. The study, led by neuroscientist Torkel Klingberg, tracked the screen time behaviour of nearly 10,000 children aged 9 to 10 over a two-year period.

The study revealed that children who spent more time playing video games than average saw a 2.5-point increase in IQ compared to the average gains in IQ[1]. This improvement was evident in tasks that involved self-control, flexible thinking, memory, reading comprehension, and visual-spatial processing[1]. On the other hand, increased screen time for activities such as watching TV or using social media did not show any correlation with IQ gains[1].

The researchers observed that this is not the first study to suggest a link between children's screen time and the development of cognitive skills. However, this study aimed to minimize the limitations of previous studies, such as small sample sizes, different study designs, and lack of consideration for genetic and socio-economic influences[1].

Klingberg stated that future studies will focus on the effects of other environmental factors and how cognitive effects relate to the development of the child's brain[1]. It's worth noting that this study did not examine the effects of screen behaviour on physical activity, sleep, well-being, or academic performance.

The findings of this study reinforce the idea that intelligence is not a fixed constant with which we are born. Instead, it suggests that video games can contribute positively to children’s cognitive development beyond the traditional view of screen time being detrimental.

Additional research similarly indicates that gaming is beneficially associated with cognitive functions involving decision-making and focus[3][4], further reinforcing the cognitive benefits suggested by the 2022 study.

[1] Klingberg, T., et al. (2022). The effects of video game play on children's intelligence: A longitudinal study. Scientific Reports. [2] Kuss, D. J., et al. (2018). Video game play, problematic mobile phone use, and problematic internet use among children and adolescents: A systematic review. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health. [3] Green, C. S., et al. (2004). The effects of action video game play on spatial cognition. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance. [4] Boot, W. R., et al. (2008). Action video game training improves attention, executive control, and the ability to make rapid decisions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

  1. What about the impact of video games on other aspects of a child's development, such as health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, technology, or education-and-self-development?
  2. Could the cognitive benefits derived from video games extend to decision-making and focus, areas often associated with self-development and education?
  3. With more research showing the positive association between gaming and cognitive functions, it's worth exploring potential benefits for fields like technology, science, and education beyond the immediate focus on intelligence and cognitive development.

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