Can computer games really help youngsters to be more social?

We heard so much about computer games and their impact on the kids today. Just how positive or negative effect does computer games have on the kids today? This post takes a look at a positive side to computer gaming in American teenagers. 

According to PEW Internet Research, majority of youngsters who play computer games played with family members or friends rather than alone. With this style of engagement, the research team deems that an activity like such encourages teenagers to be more social. With such interest established for gaming, they also found that the kind of games which most teenagers played allowed them to find out more about world issues and politics. 

Just how true it is and we shall look at another point of view directed at this issue.

A Michigan State University researcher and his colleagues have found out that playing games that are violent leads to brain activity that cultivate aggressive thoughts. In a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study research test, they found out that 11 participants out of a group of 13 male participants experienced a certain aggression impact in their brain. 

The picture on the left shows brain activity during video game play in the characteristic regions of interest (Image courtesy of Michigan State University).

FMRI is a technique for determining which parts of the brain are activated by different types of physical sensation or activity, such as sight, sound or the movement of a subject’s fingers. This “brain mapping” is achieved by setting up an advanced MRI scanner in a special way so that the increased blood flow to the activated areas of the brain shows up on functional MRI scans.

It is essential to understand how violence is interpretated by players and how certain player can be psychologically affected by the games they played. 

Hence, though there are probably more positive effects of playing all types of video games and rather than violent video games. Socialising with peers or improving cognitive and physical abilities is a good way to allow youngster to interact with the world outside. With the right parental guidance and mental values established since young, gaming definitely helps youngsters to be more socially and hopefully, less violent.

Image Source: infoniac.com ; Michigan State University

Article 1 source : Computer Games Help Youngsters Be More Social

Article 2 source: Violent Video Games Lead To Brain Activity Characteristic Of Aggression