Playing Video games is good for your brain

Question

I believe video games help your brain because I have experienced it first hand. From just playing with friends it works on your teamwork ability. A quote from National Institutes of Health states that "A study of nearly 2,000 children found that those who reported playing video games for three hours per day or more performed better on cognitive skills tests involving impulse control and working memory compared to children who had never played video games." The website I have linked has many studies and links to the studies that show it improves brain function. National Institute of Health does studies with thousands of kids so that its a wide number of reported children. Using more studiers makes the study more relatable and proven true. They have also reported "The ABCD Study, the largest of its kind in the United States, is tracking nearly 12,000 youth as they grow into young adults." 

Answer 1

While some argue that video games can improve teamwork and cognitive skills, there is also strong evidence showing that video games can be harmful to the brain. According to an article from Psychology Today by Dr. Victoria L. Dunckley titled "This Is Your Child's Brain on Video Games", video games can overstimulate the brain, leading to problems like poor focus, mood disorders, and even addiction. Dunckley explains that video games release large amounts of dopamine, which can cause the brain to become desensitized over time, making everyday activities seem less interesting or rewarding. Additionally, a study from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics led by Dr. Jason Nagata found that excessive screen time, including video games, is linked to disrupted sleep, increased stress, and emotional instability in adolescents. While video games may have some benefits, these studies show that the negative effects on mental health and brain development cannot be ignored.

Comments

This claim is opinionated! The claim about a study showing children who play video games for three hours or more a day performing better on cognitive skills tests related to impulse control and working memory needs to be verified. Such a study might exist, but it would require a careful look at the specific methodology, sample size, and the conclusion to confirm whether it supports this broad assertion.

The statement that children playing 3+ hours of video games per day perform better seems to contradict some other research, which suggests that excessive screen time can have negative effects, particularly on children's health and cognitive development. So, confirming the context and scope of the study is crucial.

---

You make a good point about overstimulation and sleep, but I am skeptical about lumping all games together. Not every game has the same effect, and dopamine isn't inherently bad because it's part of how we learn and stay motivated. The issue isn't games themselves, but how they're used. Maybe the focus should be on balance, not blame.

---

You brought up some solid concerns, especially with the sources from Psychology Today and JAMA Pediatrics. I like how you highlighted the effects of overstimulation and dopamine, that really helped explain the “why” behind the claim. One suggestion: it could’ve been interesting to briefly mention the flip side too, like how some games are actually used in therapy or education. Just to balance it out a bit. Still, great job making a clear case for why the claim is more complicated than it seems!

---

Your claim is exactly what needs to be said. This post is misleading and can be interpreted wrong, and you providing and talking about both the good and the bad helps all. The source you provided is also a great site to look more if interested. Great job backing up your facts.

---

I agree with your claim, that even though video games tend to release dopamine for a short period, it doesn't mean that video games in general are good for you. Constantly playing video games leads to excessive amounts of screen time which is terrible for sleep and induces stress, and I would also deem this claim as misleading/ exaggerated. I would suggest siting below your answer the sources you used for your factcheck so that other users can see where you got your information, otherwise great factcheck!

Answer 2

The claim that video games are good for you is both right and wrong. While these games can be good for chatting with friends online or releasing stress from a long day of work, there are also mental repercussions for playing an extended amount of video games. For example, the University of Oxford completed a study in which they researched players social connection with others, and related that to time spent on the game, stating that "experiences of competence and social connection with others through play may contribute to people(s) well-being." The study also suggests that video games also might help kids with problem solving skills and creativity, also heightening their experience overall. However, though some games might be good for well-being, others might promote violence and cyberbullying which is destructive towards one's mental health. Havard medical school published an article in which looks over several different opinions on video game violence, saying that is that "exposure to violent media (including video games) can contribute to real-life violent behavior and harm children in other ways." With this being said, there are a wide variety of different video games that can have even more variety with the effect on the mental health of those who participate in them. So, the claim that video games are good for your mental health is neither right or wrong, depending on the point of view you are looking towards. 

Comments

I thought this was a really good response and I went and looked and did some research on my own about how exposure to violent media can contribute to real-life violent behavior and found out that playing violent games can typically lead to more aggression and overall aggressive behavior. I also found from the National Institutes of Health, that playing violent video games for more than 2 hours a day had significantly more depressive symptoms as well. In my personal experience, I use video games more as a social tool, to do something that I enjoy with my friends, however, I can see that certain types of games can be bad. I find this mostly bad for younger children while their brains are still developing and they are learning. It should be the responsibility of the parent to try and monitor what their child is playing.

---

I really liked how you used multiple sources including a case study! Looking a question from multiple points of view is a great way to get information. I would also like to see the articles linked in your answer too! That's my only feedback for this answer.

---

Nice job adding relevant quotes. Also, you cited the University of Oxford, but I don't see the URL. Please always include URLs to your sources. Thanks!

---

I like that you argued for both sides of the pros and cons to this statement. It made your response more specific and what you said for both sides balance each other well.

---

Providing perspectives from both sides helps your claims further in this situation because you are finding the goods and bads of both sides, which seems wiser and more reliable to an opinion!

---

I think that your argument was really strong and you did a good job of explaining both sides of it thoroughly. I think it would help if you supported your evidence with links to allow others to view your sources. You used facts much more than opinion and I think that is very helpful in supporting your claim.

---

I agree with your response, this cannot be overall true or false. There are cases fighting both sides and clear truth on both. Overall this would be an opinion so i think your tag on it is correct. Also this answer could use a URL to your sources!

---

I agree with your claim that this is more of an opinion that you can neither support nor go against. I appreciate you citing a reputable source like Oxford though it'd make your fact check stronger if you included a direct link to the article next time. It is also important to note that the topic of video games in media and their benefits and disadvantages has been circulated since video games first entered mainstream media. There's many articles targeting this topic.

---

Your claim is explained perfectly, that the claim can not be true or false. I like hoe you went at what the claim was talking about and that your source is providing backup to what you are talking about. Next time, make sure to leave a URL for your source.

Answer 3

While your claim is not wrong, it's misleading. Yes, you provide great evidence from the National Institute of Health that proves your point, but the article title is labeled as 'might help,' meaning that they are not 100% confident that it helps. Also, many studies prove you wrong. The Article "Are video games, screens another addiction?" produced by the MAYO CLINIC HEALTH SYSTEM talks about the negative symptoms of playing video games. They say that it can be very damaging and that excessive screen time can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. They say it's linked to unhealthy blood sugar levels and mood swings. Furthermore, they link all this to video games, and since they release dopamine, this just gets pushed to the next level by making it addictive. They continue to list lots of reasons on why it's bad for you.

 https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/are-video-games-and-screens-another-addiction

Answer 4

As the original claim states, video games can actually benefit your brain in certain aspects. According to the Cleveland Clinic, gaming improves social connectedness and memory, increases the brain's gray matter (where you control your movement, retain your memories, and regulate your emotions), stimulates creativity and feelings of accomplishment, and enables gamers to pay close attention and set-shifting. However, although Harvard Health Publishing also agrees with the claim that games positively influence your brain, they point out that too much gaming can cause harmful effects on your brain, such as disturbance of the sense of appetite, preoccupation, withdrawal, tolerance, loss of interest in other activities, downplaying use, gaming to escape or relieve anxiety, guilt, or other negative mood states, failure to control, continued gaming despite psychosocial problems. A study also shows that between 0.3% and 1.0% of Americans might have an internet gaming disorder, and Harvard Health Publishing recommends moderate gaming. Based on that, it's not always the case that playing video games is good for your brain, in my opinion.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-video-games-good-for-you

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-health-effects-of-too-much-gaming-2020122221645

https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.16020224