- Researchers recently conducted a study to see how playing different types of video games impacts memory capabilities in both younger and older adults.
- They compared how well they performed at certain tasks that tested both their working memory and ability to ignore distractions to what types of video games the participants reported playing.
- They learned that older adults who play digital puzzle games had better concentration abilities compared to older adults who either do not play digital games or play a different type of game.
- Alternatively, younger adults who reported playing strategy games had a superior working memory compared to those who did not report any history of playing games.
When people get older, it is not uncommon for them to experience difficulties with memory, particularly with working memory.
According to the
For example, when someone gives instructions to complete a task, the person would rely on their working memory to keep the instructions in mind for the duration of the task.
Researchers often look into methods of improving memory capabilities, and one often-researched area includes video gaming.
Scientists from the University of York, England suspected that the type of video game people play could impact working memory and people’s ability to ignore distractions.
They saw greater performance in older adults who played digital puzzle games and younger adults who played strategy games.
The researchers published their findings in the journal Heliyon.
Since aging has a negative impact on working memory, the researchers in this study wanted to test whether certain types of games are connected with improvements in memory among younger and older adults.
The researchers analyzed data from 482 participants for the study. The majority of the participants (297) were females. The…
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