Researchers have shown a correlation between children's increased intellect
and their increased time spent playing video games, which somewhat refutes
the myth that gaming is terrible for developing minds.
Even though the difference in cognitive ability was little and insufficient
to demonstrate a causal association, the study took care to account for a
variety of factors, including as genetic variations and the child's
socioeconomic status.
Social media use and TV viewing, meanwhile, didn't appear to have any
beneficial or bad effects on IQ. The study should be helpful in the
discussion over how much screen time is appropriate for developing
minds.
In their recently released work, the researchers state that "Digital media
defines modern childhood, but its cognitive effects are unclear and hotly
debated."
We think that research based on genetic information might help to clarify
causal statements and account for the frequently overlooked influence of
genetic predispositions.
9,855 US-based children between the ages of 9 and 10 who participated in
the ABCD Study had screen time data examined by researchers. The young
people claimed to spend 2.5 hours a day on TV or online movies, 1 hour on
video games, and 30 minutes online socializing.
Two years later, researchers were able to obtain data for more than 5,000
of these kids. Over the intervening time, participants in the research who
admitted to playing video games more frequently than usual had an IQ gain of
2.5 points over the average.
The youngsters' performance on tests that included reading comprehension,
visual-spatial processing, and one that was centered on memory, flexible
thinking, and self-control were what determined the IQ point rise.
It's crucial to note that although though the study only looked at kids in
the US and did not distinguish between different kinds of video games
(console versus mobile), it still provides vital information on gaming and
IQ and supports the notion that intelligence isn't something we have from
birth.
According to neurologist Torkel Klingberg
of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, "our results support the claim that
screen time generally does not impair children's cognitive abilities, and
that playing video games can actually help boost intelligence."
The researchers point out that this is not the first study to demonstrate a connection between children's gaming time and the growth
of their cognitive skills, and there may be other advantages from video
games as well.
Small sample numbers, various study designs, and a lack of consideration
for genetic and socioeconomic factors, according to the research team behind
the latest study, have all contributed to the inconsistent claims of the
impacts of screen time that we've seen thus far. This study tried to reduce
those constraints.
All of this means that there are many variables at play, both in terms of
how intelligence may grow and shape and in the various ways that screen time
may alter our bodies and our habits — so much more study is required.
"We didn't examine the effects of screen behavior on physical activity,
sleep, wellbeing, or school performance, so we can't say anything about
that,"
claims Klingberg.
The research has been published in
Scientific Reports.
