A recent study reveals that video games may not just be a form of entertainment, but may also contribute to improving some of the players' mental abilities.
The researchers found that playing video games is associated with limited but measurable cognitive benefits, particularly in areas such as memory, attention, and spatial abilities.
Video games have always been associated with a negative image by some, as they are considered an activity that may lead to wasting time or negatively affect brain health, similar to excessive use of social media or watching television.
However, researchers and gamers point out that many games require complex mental skills, such as quick decision-making, focus, planning, and problem-solving. This is why video games have become an important subject of research in neuroscience and cognitive psychology in recent years.
Previous studies have shown mixed results, with some research finding that players perform better on certain mental tests, while other studies have found no clear differences between players and non-players.
Researchers believe that differences in the types of games, the design of the studies, and the characteristics of the participants may be the reason behind this variation in results.
To get a clearer picture, the researchers compiled the results of correlational studies, research comparing gamers and non-gamers, as well as experiments that tested the effect of training on video games.
The review included studies published between 2 005 and 2025, with a total of 14,245 participants. The researchers also assessed the quality of the studies, finding that most were of average quality, while a smaller percentage were of high quality.
The team divided the mental abilities addressed in the research into five main areas: memory, spatial ability, visual attention, cognitive control, and intelligence.
The results showed that video game players scored slightly higher than non-gamers in a number of these areas, particularly in spatial ability, visual attention, cognitive control, and intelligence.
Memory was the area most closely associated with playing games, as the results indicated a more pronounced improvement in it compared to the other abilities studied in the research.
The researchers explained that the likely reason for this is that the games require players to constantly remember information, rules, maps, and goals, which may help train memory skills over time.
Limited benefits and not a complete change in capabilities
Despite the positive results, researchers emphasize that the impact of video games on mental abilities is not significant, and most improvements appear to be limited.
They pointed out that some of the benefits may be directly related to the skills required within the games themselves, while there is not yet sufficient evidence that these improvements translate broadly to all aspects of everyday life.
The study also showed that factors such as age, gender, culture, game type, and playing time did not clearly affect the results, suggesting that the potential effects may be similar between different groups of players.
Despite the study encompassing a large number of research papers, the researchers pointed out some limitations, including the different methods of measuring mental abilities between studies, the reliance of some research on participants' self-reports, and the lack of studies that track the impact of games over long periods of time.
The team called for extensive, long-term future studies to better understand the relationship between video games and the brain, and to determine whether certain types of games can be used to support learning or maintain cognitive abilities as we age.
