The effects of video games on the brain

Over the past 30 years, video games have become an integral part of our culture, with estimates that close to 60% of Americans currently play some type of video game. Unsurprisingly, there has also been a surge in both popular and scientific interest in the potential consequences of playing video games. Video gamers, parents, politicians and the press often make contradictory claims about the effects that video games have on the brain, resulting in a flurry of sensationalist headlines. While one study will praise video games as a way to ‘boost brain power,’ another will warn that playing video games ‘damage the brain.’ However, viewing the influence that video games have on our brains as an either-or proposition does not do justice to the complexities and limitations of the studies involved, often creating an oversimplified picture of the effects which gaming has on the brain.