There are long running debates as to whether various forms of modern entertainment have adverse effects on the human mind. Not so long ago, debates raged as to whether television has negative effects on minds, specifically those of children. This debate eventually grew less prevalent, however, as the focus shifted to video games. Voices rose up from across the world as to the negative effects video games must have on young minds, and many experts seemed all but certain that children were being warped by everything from Super Mario Brothers, to the infamous Mortal Kombat.
Indeed, Mortal Kombat kicked the debate into high gear, given the focus of the game on excessive violence. Parents were outraged, and for very good reason, given that video games had no age restriction system at the time Mortal Kombat was at its peak of popularity. Why shroud movies have age restrictions, but video games remain completely unchecked?
A video game ratings board was established, and that seemed like an answer to the solution. But, every few years the debates seem to reignite as to whether video games are having negative effects on human minds.
Interestingly enough, however, research has come to light that seems to suggest the exact opposite. Are video games and games like online blackjack in fact good for the human mind, flying in the face of all expectations?
TED Talks
The TED Talks are a yearly gathering of exceptional specialists from around the world, including experts form virtually every major scientific and medical industry. The talks given at these gatherings are seen as a sharing of cutting edge information and knowledge, and those who speak at the TED Talks are respected as global research leaders. So, when a speaker addressed the notion that video games were bad for the human mind several years ago, and countered it instead with the notion that video games are in fact good for the human mind, everyone sat up and took notice.
In the talk, it was outlined as to how the human mind engages with video games, and detailed as to how the engagement can be positive in a number of ways. Those who played fast paced action games, for example, developed ultra perception, and an incredibly keen eye for small details. Gamers were, on average, able to to keep track of small details, and their location in space, many times better than non-gamers. And that was just the beginning. Overall, it was shown that the mind of a gamer was many times better than a non-gamer, in a number of significant ways.
The TED Talk, several years ago, was followed by many more that said similar things about video games, and their effect on the human mind, leading to many people to change their perspective of gaming as a whole.
Not All Positive
Of course, these TED Talks was not declaring that gaming is 100% beneficial to people, 100% of the time. Video game addiction is an ever-increasing issue, and there are certainly no benefits to those who play an excessive amount of video games.
As with all things, moderation is key, and those who let their bodies suffer, while they remain glued to video games, are certainly not going to be better off.