Are you fond of video games? There could be good news in store for you. According to a latest study those who are into gaming may have an extra edge when it comes to learning and other cognitive tasks. The German based study examined the learning power of both gamers and non-gamers by pitting them against each other. The study revealed that gamers performed considerably better, and showed increased activity in areas of the brain linked to learning.
The study published in the journal Behavioural Brain Research, also found that gamers were more competent at analyzing situations to learn new things and put facts in order. In highly uncertain situations, they can do so more quickly as compared to those who weren't into gaming.
For the study, Neuropsychologists at the Ruhr-University Bochum recruited 17 volunteers who played action-based video games on a computer or console for over 15 hours weekly. On the other hand, they examined a second group which consisted of 17 participants who did not regularly play video games.
Both the group, completed the weather prediction task, a test designed to examine the learning of probabilities. The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to record brain activity,as the participants were completing their task. A combination of three cards with different symbols on them were shown to the participants. They were asked to predict whether the card combination predicted sun or rain, and received immediate feedback on whether they picked the correct answer. This helped them learn about the card combination and which stood for what weather prediction, associating them with probabilities. Post this, the participants then completed a questionnaire to measure their new knowledge regarding the cards.
The findings revealed, that gamers performed much better in combining cue cards with the correct weather predictions compared to the non-gamers. In addition to this, the questionnaires showed that the gamers had more new knowledge about the card combination meanings.
One of the authors of the study said, that gamers performed better in analyzing a situation quickly, their brain worked significantly better in generating new knowledge and to categorize facts, especially in situations with high uncertainties. This type of learning is associated with activity in the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for learning and memory.
The researchers further noted that the study is important not just for young people, but also for older people - this is because changes in the hippocampus can lead to a decrease in memory performance, which perhaps could be treated with video games in future.
Certain food have been long associated with increasing brain power and learning abilities. Here are some of them.
1. Nuts and Seeds
Seeds and nuts may help increase your brainpower significantly. Pumpkin seeds are loaded with zinc that play a great role in sharpening your memory. Walnuts are a good source of omega-3 and other essential nutrients crucial for brain functioning and memory skills. Many other nuts and seeds including sunflower seeds are good sources of Vitamin E which is crucial in giving your brainpower a significant boost.
2. Berries
Blueberries may help combat against the onset of short term memory loss. Berries in general, including strawberries, when consumed regularly can help delay age-related memory decline.
3. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a good source of lycopene which act against brain cells degeneration and aid in the maintenance and production of new brain cells.
4. Wholegrains
Wholegrains are often dubbed as the powerhouse of energy which helps in keeping you alert and focus better. While consuming wholegrains, energy is released in the body in form of sugar which assists our brain in functioning properly.
5. Fish
Omega-3 fatty acids as well as EPA and DHA are essential for healthy brain functioning as well as for healthy brain neurons. Fish are also an excellent source of Vitamin E. Vegetarians can substitute fish with soybean oil, linseed oil, and flaxseed oil.
Loading up on these foods may work wonders for your brain power and memory.