What are the cognitive benefits of gaming? Doing all we can to stay healthy is important in life and can involve many things. The most obvious examples most of us are familiar with include following a sensible diet, exercising regularly and taking care of our mental health. The mental side of staying healthy has come into particular focus lately, as people start to realize just how important this is.
Although things like mindfulness can help, activities we do in our spare time to stay entertained can also have a positive influence. Gaming is a good example of this and is an industry that has really taken off globally in recent years. It includes not only video gaming in countries like the USA but also online casino gaming in many places worldwide. Estonia is a particular iGaming hotspot, and Jalla Casino shows just why this is the case.
Although it delivers plenty of fun however you play, gaming is also a pastime that is thought to have some potentially beneficial effects on how our brains work. This can be seen in the multiple cognitive benefits that playing games may bring.
But what might these benefits be?
Reduction in impulsive behavior
One of the major cognitive benefits attributed to gaming is a reduction in impulsiveness. This is something that can be useful in daily life, as it means you do not make rash decisions that you might later regret.
But how does playing games have a positive influence on this part of our cognitive behavior? In simple terms, most games (especially action games or first-person shooters) contain gameplay elements that may not always merit immediate attention.
This might be choosing your targets in a game so you do not shoot the wrong people, or leaving a batch of supplies for later if you do not need them right away. By doing this in a game, our brains learn to respond to stimuli in a calmer and more logical way – rather than relying on impulse to drive decisions.
Boost for ability to multitask
Whether it is adult health or children’s health, keeping our cognitive abilities in good shape is critical. One cognitive function that is increasingly important in the modern world is our ability to multitask. This involves effectively performing more than one task at a time, without becoming stressed. Good multitasking skills are crucial not only in our daily lives but also in the working world.
Gaming can have a positive impact on these abilities, as all games have elements of multitasking within them. Flight simulators, for example, will need you to fly the plane, keep an eye on fuel levels, avoid on-screen hazards and much more. Soccer games (such as FIFA 23) will involve controlling the player who has the ball, while avoiding opposing players, keeping an eye on where your teammates are and thinking about what you will do next.
These examples show the kind of multitasking that games involve and how playing them regularly could get you lots of practice at doing more than one thing at once. Over time, this type of practice can give your cognitive multitasking levels a major boost.
Gaming can lead to better memory
Memory is a key part of our cognitive abilities and is another area that can be improved by gaming. When you consider that a better memory helps us perform well at work and makes it easier to navigate our personal lives, you can understand why this impact is so beneficial.
But how do games enable us to not only preserve our ability to remember things but also build on them? Online casino games are a good place to start and this certainly applies to table games, such as poker or blackjack. To begin with, players have to remember the rules of the game and the value of
various cards or hands. They then have to recall any strategy they wish to use in the game and how to put this into practice. Online slots are also great for building memory skills, as players have to recall what each symbol means and how much each is worth.
This shows just how games can enable us to use our memory skills regularly and keep them strong. By allowing us to practice our ability to recall information, games help this part of our brains stay in the best shape.
Gaming can have positive effects on our cognitive abilities
The cognitive part of our brain is vital to how we function and not only how we interact with the world but also interpret it. It is therefore key to do all we can to keep it in top shape and functioning effectively. Playing games is an activity that can be helpful and is also lots of fun.
