Is Tetris good for my brain?
Studies have shown that playing Tetris increases gray matter density in many areas of the brain, especially some parts of the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes. It also improves brain efficiency in many areas. Yes, Tetris can be used as a tool for improving focus and concentration in individuals with ADHD. The game requires players to pay attention to multiple pieces and lines at once, which can improve attentional control and reduce mind-wandering.The original Tetris designers thought it couldn’t be done – the game is designed to play endlessly. The pieces fall faster and faster until a player is overwhelmed. To beat the game, a player has to achieve scores so high that the game’s memory banks overload and it crashes.Tetris® is an extremely addictive game, and children can easily become obsessed with playing it. If children play the game for long periods of time, it could interfere with their school work, physical activity, and socialization with others. Another potential danger is that the game can cause eye strain and headaches.Research supports this theory. Oxford University conducted a study where participants were exposed to distressing images. Half of them played Tetris for 20 minutes afterward, while the other half did nothing. Those who played Tetris experienced fewer intrusive thoughts in the days that followed.An extraordinary thing happened on December 21, 2023: 13-year-old Willis Gibson from Stillwater, Oklahoma, beat Tetris. You probably have some sense of what Tetris is: a puzzle video game created in 1985 by Soviet software engineer Alexey Pajitnov.
Can Tetris help with anxiety?
Another study, published in 2018, found that playing Tetris may help counteract anxiety by inducing a state of flow, or being able to focus deeply on a task. Further research has indicated that these brain changes aren’t unique to Tetris, with gamers reporting Tetris effect-like hallucinations from other video games. Playing Tetris was correlated with increases in hippocampal volume, and hippocampal increases were correlated with continued reduction of PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms between completion of therapy and 6-month follow-up.Mental Health Benefits: In addition to its cognitive perks, Tetris has also been linked to mental health improvements. Surprisingly, playing Tetris has been found to reduce cravings for food, drugs, and other activities.Following therapy, hippocampal volume increased in the Tetris group, but not the control group. As well, hippocampal increases were correlated with reductions in symptoms of PTSD, depression and anxiety between completion of therapy and follow-up in the Tetris group, but not the control group.This evidence indicates that: playing Tetris (or perhaps a similar game) for around 20 minutes in the hours after experiencing a traumatic event may help to reduce subsequent intrusive memories. Tetris at the point of recalling a previous traumatic experience may also reduce intrusions and distress.Long-term Tetris exposure has even been linked to increased cortical thickness in regions that are associated with spatial reasoning (Haier et al. Essentially, our brains become better at recognizing and predicting patterns; a helpful skill even outside the game!
Is Tetris good for your brain?
Studies have revealed that engaging with Tetris can increase gray matter in the brain, potentially leading to better cognitive function and enhanced problem-solving skills. Mental Health Benefits: In addition to its cognitive perks, Tetris has also been linked to mental health improvements. Tetris can improve cognitive function, particularly in areas such as spatial reasoning and problem-solving. The game has been shown to have therapeutic benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety. Tetris can be used as a tool for improving focus and concentration.Tetris has also been found to have a positive impact on mental health, including reducing symptoms of PTSD and anxiety disorders. The game’s calming and predictable nature can provide a sense of control and mastery, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals who have experienced trauma or stress.
Is playing too much Tetris bad?
When individuals play Tetris for prolonged periods of time, their brains become highly tuned to recognising and processing the distinctive shapes and patterns of the game. This in turn can lead to these patterns appearing in the mind’s eyes when not actively playing. A study by Haier et al. Tetris, participants showed relatively thicker cortexes in the Brodmann area 6 which plays a role in the planning of complex, coordinated movements; demonstrating how the brain undergoes plastic changes to accommodate the demands of the task.
What happens if you play Tetris every day?
The Tetris Effect happens when prolonged exposure to a repetitive task causes it to infiltrate subconscious thought, manifesting into hypnagogic imagery (visions before sleep), dreams, or altered real-world perception. These flashbacks can be incredibly distressing and even debilitating. But here’s where Tetris comes in. Research has shown that playing Tetris immediately after experiencing a traumatic event can significantly reduce the occurrence of these intrusive memories.