A recent study has found that children who play video games for an hour daily may see a significant boost in their intelligence quotient (IQ). Researchers from Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands observed records from the ABCD Study, which tracked the development of over 9,000 children aged 9 or 10. The children spent an average of 2.5 hours per day watching TV or online videos.
The study’s findings suggest that playing video games can improve cognitive skills such as reading comprehension, visual-spatial processing, memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. Torkel Klingberg, the study’s author and a neuroscientist from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, stated that the results support the claim that screen time does not impair children’s cognitive abilities.
However, it is essential to note that the study had limitations. It only focused on US kids and did not consider the types of video games played or other environmental factors such as physical activity, sleep, and wellbeing. The researchers plan to conduct further studies to investigate these aspects.
The study’s publication in the journal Scientific Reports has sparked interest in the potential benefits of video games for children’s cognitive development. Other research has shown that playing video games can have a positive impact on mental health.
Source: https://technology.inquirer.net/139220/playing-video-games-may-boost-child-iq-levels-study