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

I agree with this comment a lot. I think videogames can actually be very harmful to the brain. It just like anything that gives you a dopamine boost it can feel good in the moment but actually take a long term effect on your focus, mood, and overall mental health.

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Nice work -- please don't forget to add URLs for each source next time. Thanks!

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I appreciate how you pointed out some of the benefits of playing video games; however, you also highlighted the many negative effects that it has. I wasn't able to access the sources as you didn't provide the URL, but looking at some other reliable sources, they seem to agree with the points you've made. I enjoyed that you focused on the effect of the brain from video games in the world around us too rather than just the effects on the brain from staring at a screen.

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I think you stated this very well! I really like how you bring in children into this problem because in my opinion I think the real issue is allowing kids to have access to video games. I like how you said where you got your information from but make sure to add urls so others can go read for themselves!

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I think your claim was stated very well and you included good evidence to back up this statement. I like how you pointed out benefits as well as negative side effects, next time make sure you just include the url to your response.

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I think that that this is a very complex subjects as in some cases it can be a good thing and in other cases it can be a very bad thing. You did a very good job of stating your claim and making your point.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!