May 27th, 2009
Video Games in Developing Intelligence Potential
History has been a silent witness in the evolution of learning. It has evolved from primitive growls to traditional schooling techniques and now, to video games.
The principal medium of brain development is through visuals and audios. It was also found out that in using as many human senses as possible, learning and retention will be at their peak and there is no doubt that several teaching theories and methodologies were rooted from these concepts. Technology and video games can be a vital part of brain development, based from a certain book stating that play is one pillar of learning curriculum.
Educational games, like the one where letters are printed in cereals and players are prompted to think as many words as possible before the cereal gets too soggy, obviously increases human thinking relating to words and letters. Other video games are concerned on numbers and puzzles. Such games aim to improve arithmetic and logical thinking of the human brain.
However, recent studies show brain development even in other game genres like action and RPG. Such games need simultaneous task execution, which helps improving concentration, cognition, and perception of players. Through online chatting to share ideas and facilitate wider group discussion, strategic thinking and informal scientific reasoning of gamers are also being improved. Some genre like tactical games improve multi-tasking skills, focus, and agility because it requires protecting game camps, avoiding enemies, and even participating in simulation of real-world activities like driving and aircraft handling.
Next advantage of video games for brain development is in motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Games, especially in the action genre, require lots of hand and finger movement. Such movements can be achieved through proper hand-eye coordination. Eyes will transmit information to the brain, which will further process needed actions and coordinate with hands for proper execution. Also, people tend to lose other motor skills as they grow older. Playing video games will sharpen and prevent rapid deterioration of such skills.
Aside from intellectual and similar development, video games are also utilized to help in other brain areas. Studies are now being conducted to form solid foundation on how games can be used to treat emotional disorders like ADHD. It is also being studied that games can help in reducing spatial skills gap between male and female. Getting a video game like cheap stoked or red faction guerilla for sale would be prime examples to test these scenario’s.
The human brain can adapt and be properly developed through appropriate simulation and environment. This can be observed in a highly-skilled teen in different game categories. This case has been an interesting study because the teen was blind since birth and it shows neuroplasticity, or the capacity of the brain to create new associations between neural networks and rearrange itself to adjust with varying conditions. His present mastery that caused him to easily beat other players had evolved from playing classic games and through asking numerous questions, keyboard memorization, and patience. Finding a game like lord of the rings conquest for sale would be ideal to test this theory.
Though video games can also impose disadvantages, these undesirable effects can be avoided through proper guidance and support.